It took time for me to see that he was a bad partner.

We had been together months before I grew tired of the comments, forgotten dates.

Christmas at his mom’s brought it home. He forgot my name.

I kept the tin of cookies she made but tossed the person.

Hoosier-born Carissa Rae is a New Jersey resident by coercion. She works in NYC and lives with a rapscallion mutt and temperamental radiator.