Virginia Tech tragedy
-
The 34th Stone
My father called me the morning of April 16, 2007. Sirens filled the background on his end of the line—he asked if I was okay. “Yes, I’m fine. Where are you? What’s going on?” “Twenty-three dead,” he said flatly. I stood in the living room of my apartment with the phone to my ear. The…
-
Why I Don’t Watch the News
I played a sick game with myself in December of 2012 when my roommate told me the Sandy Hook news story. I let my mouth drop and my eyes widen, but I did not sit with her in the small yellow living room and watch the television screen like she did. She sat there in…
-
An Open Letter to Ross’ Mother
Dear Ms. A, You don’t know me and I don’t know you. Truthfully, I didn’t really know your son either, but I sat in front of him in our American Lit class in 2007. I knew his energy. I didn’t really know anyone else in that class either because back then, I was quiet. Back…
