Dear Readers,
Today began softly. I woke up feeling refreshed, still curled in my cozy hoodie and sleepwear, though the cramps were fierce and unrelenting. Somehow, even through the discomfort, I felt excited to start the day. It was one of those rare mornings where you let yourself linger a little — the kind where the world feels quiet and forgiving.
I spent my first hour tucked beneath the blankets, reading my newest book, letting the story pull me gently into wakefulness before shifting to work. Timesheets don’t exactly spark joy, but I managed to finish them up while sipping coffee and enjoying the peace of an early morning at home.
Then, unexpectedly, my phone rang. It was Ray, a friend from college I hadn’t spoken to in ages. We met during my sophomore year — his freshman — and though we’ve kept in touch here and there, I wasn’t expecting to hear from him today. What started as a nostalgic check-in quickly turned emotional; today would have been his seventh anniversary with his ex. I could hear the ache in his voice as he reflected on what could have been.
But somehow, the conversation took a sharp turn — politics. Within minutes, I found myself massaging my temples as he launched into a passionate hour-long debate about right versus left. I tried to keep my cool, reminding him that both sides have their flaws, but his hyperfixation could have won an Olympic medal. I finally had to wrap it up when my mom called three times in a row — a sign from the universe, perhaps, to retreat gracefully.
When I called my mom back, it was to find out she wanted me to come over and help trim her cats’ nails — a solid “no” from me, since I already had errands to run. After showering and getting dressed, my first stop was the post office. Today I finally mailed Bisa’s birthday and Christmas gifts — an 18-pound box full of surprises and love. When I told him, his reaction was priceless; I could practically hear the shock through the phone, which made me giggle. It’s supposed to arrive by Monday, and I can’t wait for him to open it.
After that, I headed to get my haircut — or at least tried to. They were fully booked, so I made an appointment for tomorrow at 3 p.m. (something to look forward to). While deciding what to do for lunch, Bisa and I talked on the phone, and after a little debate between cooking and treating myself, I chose the latter. Subway won — a footlong chicken sandwich with provolone, guacamole, and all my favorite toppings, plus Sun Chips and a raspberry white chocolate cookie. Heaven.
When I got home, I sat down to eat, but Bisa had other plans — he put on a show called Welcome to Derry. I had no idea it was a horror series until it was too late. I tried my best to watch through my fingers while eating my sandwich, but I didn’t last long. Thankfully, we switched gears to something fun afterward — Pico Park. If you’ve never played it, it’s chaotic and hilarious, especially with Bisa. We laugh constantly and fail just as much, which might be part of the fun. When the game crashed, we switched to Escape Simulator, solving puzzles together until Bitey joined in to help us figure out the trickier ones.
The peace didn’t last long, though. My brother interrupted the evening asking me to drive him to a Halloween party — and to inform me that a sparrow had somehow gotten into our house. Sure enough, when I went to check, it was trapped in the blinds. We have fancy wooden ones, the kind that close completely, so the poor bird was stuck but thankfully unharmed.
My brother, of course, grew impatient about being late, so I had to drop him off — leaving the bird situation unresolved. When I returned, I discovered that he’d left the blinds open… meaning the sparrow was now flying freely around the house. Frustrated, I tried to find it, but eventually gave up and went to the bathroom. That’s when I heard the chirping — followed by rustling and my dog Millie whining.
When I ran out, my heart sank. The sparrow hadn’t made it. Millie sat beside it, nudging it gently, confused and upset. I could tell she hadn’t meant to hurt it — she’s too sweet for that — but the sight broke my heart. I picked the little bird up carefully, carried it outside, and buried it near the fence while Millie sat watching from behind the gate. It was such a small, tender moment of quiet sadness. Afterward, I gave her extra cuddles.
The rest of the night unfolded gently after that. Halloween was in full swing outside, though I’ll admit I was a terrible neighbor this year — no candy, porch light off, hoping to avoid the doorbell chaos. It didn’t work; kids still knocked, and the dogs went wild each time. Eventually, my brother texted for a ride home, and I made one last trip out into the chilly October night.
Since I was already out (and hungry again), I treated myself to Taco Bell — comfort food at its finest, even if I’ll regret it later. Once home, I joined Bisa and Bitey on call. They were watching that It spinoff again, while I started The Sandman on Netflix — and I have to say, it’s off to a beautiful start. Somewhere between episodes, I heard soft snoring. Turns out, Bitey had fallen asleep during the horror show. Honestly, I admire her bravery (and her ability to nap through chaos).
Now it’s late, the dogs are finally asleep, and the night outside feels calm again. There’s something poetic about ending a day that began with cramps and commotion in quiet reflection — just me, my thoughts, and the lingering hum of Halloween fading into November.
With love,
Monique
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