today, right in the middle of heavy traffic on the I-95 in the bronx, i broke down and sobbed. i’ve got the worst sore throat i’ve ever had in my life, the only clinic i could find on a sunday was all the way on long island, and they weren’t entirely sure what was wrong with me. when the clinic attendant looked at my sign-in papers, she said, “oh, hey! happy birthday!”

today i’m twenty-nine.