Our theme for the month of October is “flash nonfiction.” Writers were asked to submit pieces that were 250 words or less.

Today is Wednesday; a day I’ve spent in Tennessee. I could have lived this day in any number of places, and sometimes that possibility haunts me.

This evening, I could have played pickleball with my oldest friends. There’s a park in the city with lights over the courts—necessary now that the world plunges into darkness at 6:30 p.m. The sun would set, painting the sky despite Saint Louis’ rainy morning. And we would end the night sharing our favorite tacos and margaritas.

I could have been in Michigan, working from my favorite coffee shop downtown. I would have inhaled a rosemary salt bagel with my iced vanilla latte this morning and met my first college friend for dinner to plan another camping trip this fall.

Or I could have been in Chicago, working from my best friend’s apartment because we would have decided workdays were better spent together. Tonight, I may have walked with my college roommate along Lake Michigan, catching up on things we’ll end up discussing over the phone instead.

But today I worked from my one-bedroom apartment and had a fight with my anxious dog. I went for a walk at lunchtime and saw the pink streaky clouds when I took my trash out at sunset. I enjoyed a honey latte with my mom before she left town. Today I was in Nashville, spending time with the ghosts of Wednesdays not lived, and trying to practice presence in the one I was living.

Olivia Harre

Olivia graduated from Calvin in May 2018 with a double major in business and writing. She now works as an editor in Nashville, Tennessee and is eating her way through the restaurants of her new town. She enjoys weekend trips with friends, petting other people’s dogs, and drinking coffee like a Gilmore Girl.