We didn’t have a big fourth of July celebration. We had fro-yo and tacos. Then we ate a bunch of corn and watermelon, in the midwestern tradition that I’ve inherited from my wife. She texted her friend, also from Wisconsin, informing her of this, and they responded simply “mmm… corn”.

Sometimes I wake up and I feel blue, in the way I used to. I used to feel like that basically every day. It lingers for a while, and sometimes I can’t shake it. Then she asks me “do you want to go up to Warby Parker with me and maybe get a coffee?” And it is banished. I wish I could tell myself then that this exists - that she exists.