Tatiana Ryckman

Pro Life

My attitude toward food has changed, that is to say it may be the same. I may be more motivated or as motivated by food as ever. For example, I am willing to peel myself off of the couch because I know the ice cream will not eat itself. I have an obligation to help the nouns around me achieve their destiny, and it's good to have purpose. Maybe that's what's changed—this sense that my surroundings need me, not the other way around. Rather than longing to bleed to death in the shower, lady bic dangling from loose fingertips, I choose life. Because the pizza is growing cold and needs me to discover its calling, the lights are lonely without me to turn them on, and maybe my boyfriend, too. I feel like the phrase nothing is for free. Like I am the phrase. Like I am showing up, I am punching the time clock and contributing to the ideal of dependence. If it weren't for me what would China do with all its pants and cell phone chargers? Just imagine if I had a pet—maybe you know what I mean; maybe all of our shit is just pet enough to keep us up at night, alive and in the world reaching our full potential, wondering what the world would be without us.