24. Spectacles

He looked unsure but he was in fact the opposite. He toyed with shyness to woo whom he liked then lured them in with his special brand of narcissism. His confidence was overpowering. The combination was heady and few could withdraw willingly

23. Stockings

She was thoughtless with her intention. In that one action she would alter her life forever and introduce something she wasn’t even truly sure of. It set the tone of who she was from here on in and living up to it was not easy. It would be years before she realized it only brought lechery. And at some point she would have to separate her true self from it.

22. Elevator

If she could just get him alone she would tell him everything. It had been weeks and finally her chance had arrived. She had thought of every scenario but this. She was supremely terrified and the anxiety bubbled up to her throat making it impossible to put logical thoughts into place. She blurted it out the minute they were alone and he was taken aback. But he knew her well enough now to see behind the nervous eyes.

21. Workers

She was a follower and she knew it. She joined their ranks unknowingly some time ago. Now it was the fight of her life to deviate from them. She spent an inordinate amount of time convincing herself, and then others, that she didn’t belong there. But there was ease and a comfort to the unconscious cruise, so she was lulled into staying, day after cyclical day.

20. Sushi Cloth

They rarely got out without the kids. And even in that moment when he should have ponied up to maturity, it grandly eluded him. She had to pretend he was someone else. Then his tenderness disarmed her and reminded her that T-shirts on date night were okay.

19. The Number

Talking to her went like a charm. Her body signals towards him were positive. She lived in the suburbs but was planning to move downtown as soon as she got a good enough job. They both loved horses and pizza. After his silent analysis, it seemed like enough to have in common, even over the club music. But she gave him a fake number and he was devastated.

18. Billboards

She walked with her head upwards intentionally. To others she appeared to be a dreamer, but that was only part-time. The ground bored her and people’s faces engaged or avoided too much. With her face lifted toward the clouds she discovered inspiration. It sent her soaring in a way that being grounded or dreaming never did. She lived here, standing at this unheralded intersection where it spoke volumes and was hers alone.

17. Emerald Heels

He wondered if it was useless desire. How would everyone see him? What he saw was a potential in himself, the ability to portray a sleekness and sophistication that had never been bred in him or even had a chance to germinate. In that simple walk he learned more about himself than ever. Who cares what other people think? This became his mantra.

16. Hound Dog

Walking to work was dull, until he got to the corner that reminded him of all the reasons to live. Love, violence, ideals, music. The monotony was lifted for a moment. Then he went and got his morning latte

15. Fumee

It’s so easy to break rules. Particularly when you’re vehemently told not to do so. At a young age this inspires the rebel, becoming fuel for the fire, accenting the folly of youth. It splutters when you get older and one starts to hedge their bets.

14. Wristbands

They could easily be friends forever. She gave in to all her needs and wants and let her take. Some called it enabling, she called it friendship. That was 10 years ago. Looking back she sees it as utterly soul devouring.

13. The Mic

She gripped it like she did everything in life. It was her way of control. Within that moment she felt free, like a gushing vein with its blood surging, reined in by tight channels. This chance was no different, though she’d never had an audience.

12. SneakerPant

I want to talk to that guy, she said to her friend at the patio's Happy Hour. She eyed him carefully and made her decision to go over to where he held court in an unassuming manner, propped up on a precarious folding chair. She was attracted to him until he ordered himself a chocolate martini, then she had to walk away.

11. Brazil

Clearly everyone was having a better time than him. Even the coffee barista had replaced her usual fake grimace with a real smile this morning. To be taunted at every turn was killing his ego on every level. His mother had accused him of taking things personally. He couldn’t figure out how else to live.

10. Unconventional

The world beckoned to him. He thought of all the reasons he should get up. To prove to his parents he moved here for good reason, to make new friends think he was motivated, to get girls to see how passionate he was about his work. But he couldn’t, just thinking about it was exhausting. He rolled over and went back to sleep.