by Jason Myers
I pause.
Rub my face.
I feel so sick and sad. I miss her so much. I just wanna touch her again, feel her skin, hold her, and taste her.
This is when I remember what she gave me. Her septum ring. I still have it. Digging into that tiny pocket, I slide it out and squeeze it tight.
“Such Great Heights” begins playing on my computer.
Opening my hand up, I stare at the ring. It’s all I have left of her.
I love her.
Goddamn, I love that girl so much.
Looking back up into the camera, I say, “These are our stories. And our stories will never leave us, and they’ll never let us down.”
Pause.
“The end.”
I take a deep breath now and smile. Then I open my mouth, put Dominique’s septum ring on my tongue, and close my lips, knowing I may never taste anything so good again.
Blazed Playlist
Side A: Electric Clouds, Fierce Waves, Sand Lightning
1. “Lupine Dominus” by Thee Oh Sees (Turn this up as loud as you can and fucking smile all day cos you deserve to and it’s also really good for you and your friends.)
2. “Distracted” by Terry Malts
3. “Waterfall” by the Fresh & Onlys
4. “Acid Rain” by the Growlers
5. “Helicopter” by Deerhunter (Every version is amazing, but especially check out the video of them performing this song live at the Pitchfork Music Festival. It’ll change your life!)
6. “Fuck You” by Get Dead (This is your anthem song, kiddos.)
7. “HiiiPoWeR” by Kendrick Lamar
8. “Dancin’ Shoes” by Murder City Devils
9. “Black Hills” by Gardens & Villa
10. “Age of Consent” by New Order (Just dance and dance and dance y’rself clean!)
Side B: Blue Dreams, Blue Mountains, Blue Dawns
1. “The Big Idea” by Black Books
2. “Little Dreamer” by Future Islands
3. “Gila” by Beach House
4. “Lottie Mae” by the Riverboat Gamblers
5. “You Weren’t There” by Lewee Regal
6. “I Found My Mind in Connecticut” by Cage
7. “Dive” by Tycho
8. “July” by Youth Lagoon
9. “Paid (Shotgun in the Limo)” by Jon Gunton
10. “Spent Nights” by Magic Bullets
Side C: Kickin’ It Tough (Kids Forever)
1. “End of the Summer” by Fifteen
2. “They Will Kill Us All (Without Mercy)” by the Bronx
3. “Ice Water” by the Riverboat Gamblers
4. “I Was Denied” by Thee Oh Sees
5. “Young Blood” by the Naked and Famous (Crank this and go fucking dance in the streets and on the tops of roofs until the sun comes up.)
6. “Come On Now” by Gringo Star
7. “How Ya Livin’ ” by AZ featuring Nas
8. “Cabin Fever” by the Brian Jonestown Massacre
9. “Ballad of the White Horse” by the Saint James Society
10. “Five Fingers” by Aesop Rock
Side D: Our Beautiful Nostalgia (These Stories and Memories Are Ours)
1. “Sweetest Kill” by Broken Social Scene
2. “Drift Dive” by the Antlers (Let this song swallow you and carry you away.)
3. “By Your Side” by Beachwood Sparks (their version; watch video on YouTube as well)
4. “Sixteen Blue” by the Replacements
5. “Heavy Breathing” by Vows
6. “Sleepwalk” by Santo & Johnny
7. “Streets Were Raining” by Pyramid
8. “Knot Comes Loose” by My Morning Jacket
9. “Balance” by Future Islands
10. “White Dove” by Sleepy Sun
JASON MYERS was born in Iowa and raised outside of the small town of Dysart. In 2007 his first book, exit here., was released and has since become a cult classic. He is also the author of The Mission, Dead End, and Run the Game. He currently lives and works in San Francisco.
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Also by Jason Myers
exit here.
The Mission
Dead End
Run the Game
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
SIMON PULSE
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This Simon Pulse edition June 2014
Text copyright © 2014 by Jason Myers
Cover photograph copyright © 2014 by Getty Images
JACKET DESIGNED BY JESSICA HANDELMAN
JACKET PHOTOGRAPH COPYRIGHT © 2014 BY GETTY IMAGES
AUTHOR PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DANIEL CLARK
Also available in a Simon Pulse paperback edition.
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Designed by Jessica Handelman
This book has been cataloged with the Library of Congress.
ISBN 978-1-4424-8722-2 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4424-8721-5 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-4424-8723-9 (eBook)