A Sequence You Finally Learned | Alyssa Jordan

Age 20

Father said chaos lit your blood bright 
enough to burn. You wondered if 
that was why you always ran 
and laughed and fought. Why you 
loved deeply, plainly 
so. You never 
could stay or 
let him 
go.

Age 40

His death was bittersweet, back when you 
only knew the gut punch of your 
mother, of friends. Regret left 
you often with softer 
companions at night, 
and you were glad 
for it. Glad 
then and 
now. 

Age 60

These things took root after your storm cleared:    
the smell of smoke and rain on the    
skin of his jacket, water             
stains like butterfly wings,          
arms as strong as they 
were gone, more than 
one smile that           
felt like 
home.   

Alyssa Jordan is a writer living in the United States. She pens literary horoscopes for F(r)iction Series. Her stories can be found or are forthcoming in The Sunlight Press, X–R-A-Y Literary Magazine, LEON Literary Review, and more. You can find her on Twitter @ajordan901 or Instagram @ajordanwriter.