With the internet we have unfiltered access to all sorts of information, people, and communities. You can find anything from schizophrenic tulpamancers to Mongolian fly-fishing forums. I feel fortunate to live in an age where I can gather a variety of unique sentiments and diverse opinions from others all over the world. I have met great people over the internet who have impacted my life and I’m thankful for all of them, even the ones I lost touch with. The only ghosts I see are the parts of those I cherished within me; they form some of my favorite aspects of myself. For this reason, I always feel like I am in a sentimental state.

They have left their mark on me, like wine stains on white pants. I was once told that you can never get rid of those stains completely, no matter how hard you try to scrub them out. They will always be there, a reminder of the past. I think that’s beautiful. But I wish the person who gave me this metaphor would have soaked me with cabernet to create a more dark and vivid stain—to dye my thrifted white linen pants a deep maroon; making me feel damp, sticky, and loved. Regardless, I’m grateful for my precious stains. With each wash they lose a bit of their color and intensity. They are slowly fading, but will never fully wash away :3