Kimberly Olund

Fully Grown

I wake up to the shrill sound of Janice in the hall again. She can’t stand the neighbors’ yapping Chihuahuas and thinks that yapping back will help. I’m actually accustomed to the chaos of incessant barking, thanks in part to my mom always having at least ten dogs in the house at a time. I prefer a little chaos. But Janice claims to have moved to New York City for “peace and quiet”. The whole building—the whole city—knows that’s a lie. No one in his or her right mind moves to New York City to find peace. No, you move here to get lost within the corridors of its commotion and incredible history, and quite frankly, to forget about your own past. You move here if you don’t know who you are and what you want, because you want this city to squeeze it out of you. At least, that’s why I moved.