Author Archives: portiajuly

You’ve always felt liquid to me somehow. And I’ve been a filter, trying to hold you, but watching powerlessly as you slip right through my fingers. I think I knew a crush was forming when we’d been working together for two, maybe three, months. You had a soft spot for the older ladies who cameContinue reading “Black Orchid – PART III”

There was nothing extraordinary about the way we met. It was orientation and we were new loan processors. If this was a “how-it-started-versus-how-it’s-going” story, the look back would be boring compared to what happened today. But if I don’t start there, I can’t make sense of today. It was a Monday morning. I’d just graduatedContinue reading “Black Orchid – PART II”

I was shaking from shock, rubbing the goosebumps on my forearms. And you just left me there, on the steel bumper of the ambulance, your suit coat draped over my shoulders.  The SWAT team, emergency personnel, and news crews swarmed, a blur of placid faces. A twenty-something uniformed female recited a textbook script full ofContinue reading “Black Orchid – PART I”

Herbert and Delbert are twin brothers. They are both poor as dirt. But they could be multimillionaires, if not for their greed and their pride. Unfortunately, they’ve both been keeping a secret from each other for nearly 13 years. Their mother, God rest her soul, would be ashamed to know the good little boys sheContinue reading “Two Halves And Two Holds.”

The worst thing about a breakup is that you lose your best friend at the same time. You can make out or hookup with anyone. But there’s something magical about getting to kiss the same person you want to tell everything to. You will, of course, dissect all of the “isms” with 20/20 hindsight. YouContinue reading “We Get It, Bro, You Vape.”

Of course Bad Cop deflates the moment Richard knocks on the door. His routine was just getting to his favorite part, I’m guessing. He takes his pot of coffee with him as he leaves, thank God. “Johanna,” Richard says, taking Bad Cop’s seat, “I need you to go over every detail of what happened lastContinue reading “All The Pretty Ones Are Crazy – PART 4”

I don’t know how all of this is supposed to work in the real world. In every cop show I’ve ever watched on television, the suspect is always told not to talk to the cops without an attorney present. But I haven’t slept all night. So, when the door swung open and a detective enteredContinue reading “All The Pretty Ones Are Crazy – PART 3”

Richard enters the interrogation room with one of the detectives.  “Good morning, Johanna,” he says. “Good morning?” I should have fired him years ago. But that’s the thing about agents – they’re often attorneys with all kinds of loopholes to keep you roped into your contract from now until kingdom come. Once the detective isContinue reading “All The Pretty Ones Are Crazy – PART 2”

Rules don’t apply to some people. They’re licensed from birth for a lifetime of recklessness and cruelty. We have no ability to distinguish them from the rest of us, so we’re unwittingly pulled into the orbit of their chaos. They’re beautiful, intelligent, charismatic. We invite them to our parties. We share with them our deepest,Continue reading “All The Pretty Ones Are Crazy – PART I”

*This is the end of the story, originally shared as ‘Systemic Risk.’ Parts 1 & 2 are also available below.*     I waited until she got home. All of the lights were on.     “Gavin?”     “In here,” I called from the bedroom we’d shared for almost six months. I’d divided the moving boxes toContinue reading “How Twisted A Man Is Can’t Be Judged By The Knot In His Tie – PART 3”