Windward Review Vol. 20 (2022): Beginnings and Endings
"Beginnings and Endings" (2022) challenged South Texas writers and beyond to narrate structures of beginnings and ends. What results is a collection of poetry, prose, hybrid writing, and photography that haunts, embraces, and consoles all the same. Similar to past WR volumes, this collection defies easy elaboration - it contains diverse tones, languages, colors, and creative spaces. Creative pieces within the text builds upon others, allowing polyvocal narratives to interlock and defy the logic of 'beginning-middle-end'. By the end of this collection, you will neither sense nor crave the finality that a typical text brings. Instead, you will be inspired to learn and create beyond a narrative linear structure. Your reading and support is sincerely appreciated.
"Beginnings and Endings" (2022) challenged South Texas writers and beyond to narrate structures of beginnings and ends. What results is a collection of poetry, prose, hybrid writing, and photography that haunts, embraces, and consoles all the same. Similar to past WR volumes, this collection defies easy elaboration - it contains diverse tones, languages, colors, and creative spaces. Creative pieces within the text builds upon others, allowing polyvocal narratives to interlock and defy the logic of 'beginning-middle-end'. By the end of this collection, you will neither sense nor crave the finality that a typical text brings. Instead, you will be inspired to learn and create beyond a narrative linear structure. Your reading and support is sincerely appreciated.
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time, it could have been fatal. But she’d been the one talking <strong>and</strong> starting the fight about<br />
the restaurant in the first place.<br />
Focus. The break-up was happening either way.<br />
“Jason,” she said, looking down at the pavement <strong>and</strong> watching their shadows.<br />
“I don’t think we should see each other anymore.” The words sounded like a suggestion,<br />
not a fact.<br />
She didn’t look at his face, but she saw his shoulders drop. “Why?”<br />
“I don’t feel like things are working between us,” she said. “And I don’t want to<br />
waste either of ours time if it isn’t.”<br />
She turned to look at him <strong>and</strong> his sad face. He held out his h<strong>and</strong>, but she shook<br />
her head. His h<strong>and</strong> fell.<br />
“Is this because of the accident?” he asked, perking up with clarity. “Because<br />
I get it. Like, it’s scary, right? Things could have ended just like that.” He snapped his<br />
fingers to signify just how quickly things could have ended. Rhiannon winced. “It makes<br />
everything seem so tentative. But it made me realize how much I need you.” He shifted<br />
toward her. “That’s all I’ve been thinking about these past few days. To help cope, you<br />
know?” He scoffed <strong>and</strong> shook his head at himself. “I even thought - I started imagining<br />
how I would propose to you. Not now, obviously, but down the line.”<br />
This was not what she wanted to be discussing in a break-up.<br />
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I can’t be that for you.”<br />
“But you already are that.”<br />
“You’re not the guy I marry down the line.” The words came out too fast. She<br />
pulled her hair back again. “I’m sorry. I’ve got to go.”<br />
“Wait -” He reached out <strong>and</strong> grabbed her wrist. She stayed sitting, not wanting<br />
him to pull her back down if she stood. “Can’t you just - give it a few day’s thought?<br />
You’re kind of rushing into this.”<br />
His fingers were cold on her wrist. “I’ve given it enough thought.”<br />
“But if you -”<br />
“Goddamnit, Jason.” She yanked her wrist free <strong>and</strong> stood, then stepped back.<br />
Confidence filled her - or rather, the fear left her, just for a few seconds, leaving a feeling<br />
of weightlessness. “I’m not - I’m not doing this anymore. It’s over. I’m sorry.”<br />
She hesitated, waiting for some sign she was doing the right thing. But there<br />
weren’t any signs. So she turned <strong>and</strong> walked back to her car.<br />
She kept on without looking back, not even when her surge of confidence left<br />
her alone with resounding doubt. She’d nearly died, her life was upturned, <strong>and</strong> now she<br />
was ab<strong>and</strong>oning one of her few constants. A constant who loved her. Maybe the accident<br />
had changed him for the better <strong>and</strong> she was being selfish in leaving him.<br />
She neared her car, but she stopped walking to try to slow her breathing. Black<br />
dots appeared in the edges of her vision, feeding on her panic. She couldn’t pass out, not<br />
in some parking lot five minutes from her house.<br />
She forced herself to her car, ignoring the black dots, then placed a h<strong>and</strong> on it<br />
to steady herself. She was okay. She would be okay. Taking Jason out of her life was her<br />
only option to keep going.<br />
She shut her eyes, drew in a breath, <strong>and</strong> opened her eyes again. There. She got<br />
in her car <strong>and</strong> drove home.<br />
<strong>Beginnings</strong> X <strong>Endings</strong><br />
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