Fragments

I survived the year, so I bought myself a flight and an airport uniform.

I didn't need a plane ticket to Tokyo, but I bought it anyway. The science of compensatory consumption and the art of unapologetic self-gifting.

The phrase: F.I.B.I. (f*uck it, book it.)

We stared at her from across the bar for two hours. Then we went home.

The uniquely WLW experience of intense eye contact, zero action, and deeply regretting it later. The psychology of rejection sensitivity and the "useless lesbian" trope.

The phrase: Intense eye contact. Zero follow-through.

I drew my work bestie for Secret Santa. I bought her the truth.

We survive corporate meetings entirely through eye contact. The science of emotional labor and the perfect gift for the coworker who keeps you sane.

I love him, but his social battery lasts exactly twelve minutes.

Getting him to leave the house is a negotiation. The science of sensory-processing sensitivity and what to gift the guy who is completely out of social energy.

The phrase: Social battery: 1% Please stop talking

We survived the family dinner by collectively disassociating.

Aunt Susan asked about my career again. I made eye contact with my sister, and we both checked out. The psychology of ego depletion during the holidays.

The phrase: Not mad. Just dissociating.

My best friend texted her toxic ex. I bought her a hat instead of an intervention.

The group chat was exhausted. She was analyzing his mixed signals again. The psychology of intermittent reinforcement and why we buy cynical gifts for the people we love.

The Corporate Survival Guide: A Study in Dissociation

Sending one "hope this finds you well" email takes half my daily energy. The science of surface acting and the exhaustion of performative corporate work.

The phrase: professional email sender

I said I loved him, then I asked him to leave.

We finally had the moment I wanted, and I immediately panicked. The science of avoidant attachment and why intimacy feels like a threat.

The phrase: Unavailable. By choice.