Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Humans.
Why I Couldn't Listen to Tracy Chapman for Years
#MyWorstDate I met her at an open mic, at the Red Light Cafe, which was virtually my living room. I spent practically all of my time there, either playing my guitar, or listening to others play music. Her name was Jennifer. I had just played my set, which happened to include a song I had written, called "Jennifer." I had written it a few years ago, while living in Winter Park, Florida, attending audio engineering school. I would call prospective students and talk to them about the program. One night, I called a girl named Jennifer, and soon we were engaging in a hours of conversations. So I wrote her a love song, which I played several years later, at an open mic in Atlanta, where another Jennifer (this Jennifer) heard it... and was quite taken by it, and by me. We started dating. I soon learned that she suffered from clinical depression. And this played a big part in the worst date ever, which left me not able to listen to Tracy Chapman, for years.We showed up at a concert in Atlanta—Charlie Hunter Quartet with Tracy Chapman opening. They were supposed to have comp tickets at the door for her, but when we got to the window, they didn't have her name or any record of this. She burst into tears. That started things on a downward spiral. I actually bought two tickets for twenty bucks from someone in the parking lot. She refused to go to the show and began walking off into the hood, into one of the worst parts of town in Atlanta. Being concerned for her safety, I followed her. This she did not like at all, and she let me know as much. Then, as if things couldn't have gotten any worse, it began to rain. I could hear Tracy Chapman singing from a distance, from the concert we should have been at. It began to get dark. Still, I followed her at a distance, as she just blindly walked off in no particular direction. Eventually, after what seemed like hours, we made it back to where the buses were as the concert ended. I rode with her all the way back to Decatur, and even made sure she made it safely home. As we passed Eddie's Attic, she ripped some flowers from pots and threw them at me, not to mention all the lovely verbal comments being directed at me throughout the evening.
By Victor Johnson8 years ago in Humans
Angel Eyes
Her first thought was "What weirdo is trying to message me now?" They met on an online dating site! That first night they talked for hours, he was great! He was handsome! He could hold a conversation and remain a gentleman in those conversations. They opened up to one another, he had a shady past but he was working hard on turning himself around. He had substance abuse problems and in his past lead him to make poor choices; Poor choices that had lead him to jail.
By Andi Cannon8 years ago in Humans
Mother Trucker
#MyWorstDate I’ve never known how to play house. I don’t know how to be the girl that you bring home to Mom. Luckily, Avery didn’t bring me home to meet his mother, his mother met us at a bar. If I had known, I wouldn’t have drank a 40 in the car in the parking lot of Flint Woods. Flint Woods, where I used to run cross country workouts. It looked so different in the dark from the windows of Avery’s car, like something from a horror flick. I found myself listening intently for the scraping of hook handed men against the car door. I heard nothing but the trap music radiating from Avery’s speakers. Avery threw his can out the window. I wondered which runner would end up with it stuck to the bottom of their Mizuno sneakers come tomorrow afternoon.
By Aliza Dube8 years ago in Humans
3,397 Miles
If someone told me three years ago, that my life was about to be turned upside down, that I'd be happily married to a man that was sat, waiting for me to enter his life through a chatroom of all places, 3,397 miles away from here, I'd be on my back laughing hysterically at them.
By Sofia Martinez8 years ago in Humans
The Emotional Fluffer
It's really easy to look at the people who have hurt you and put all the blame on them, but the truth is...the blame is ever rarely all on them. It took me a very long time to be able to understand even a fraction of why my best friend became a stranger. I couldn't really see the role I'd played in our distraction and, this time, ignorance was not bliss.
By Nicole Beltrán Mojica8 years ago in Humans
Feeling Less Than
They say comparison is the thief of joy. Well, whoever “they” are, they’re right. Haven’t you ever just been scrolling through Instagram on a Tuesday night, and seen some beauty guru or workout blogger say for the gazillionth time, “I’m just sooo thankful for the opportunity I have to share my love of {insert literally anything here} with all of you! XOXO #blessed (and other annoying hashtags). All while you’re sitting in your sweats, on your third piece of pizza because there is *no* way you’re cooking after the day you just had.
By Ali Moreland8 years ago in Humans
Is It the Start or the End?
What is love? Some people ask me. Meanwhile, I ask myself, what is love? I ask myself, do I know what love is? I don’t know what love is. I have seen what people claim to be love. Are they asking me because I’m cold? Are they asking me because I have not dated someone? I have experienced an unrequited love; the type of love I don’t recommend. Could it be that they ask me because an unrequited love is not love? Are they asking me because it is the type of love that only one person experiences? Maybe I've been thinking too much, but I can tell them my love was painful.
By Jisenny Hernandez8 years ago in Humans
The Worst Date I've Ever Been On
I've been on a lot of bad dates. I've had guys ditch me mid-date because of my waist size, I had one date who erupted into a ball of rage at random, and yes, I've also had one date who thought it was appropriate to show up four hours late and drunk.
By Sasha Konikovo8 years ago in Humans
The Different Tie
Working in retail is hard. Long hours and being underpaid is just the start. I make it through every day with the smell of black coffee and men’s deodorant. I've kept it under control for six months now, as it is heightening at a point where I feel as if he is letting me in his brass gates of his dysfunctional mind. I hold back. I am into my boss. It wouldn't be so complicated if there wasn't a huge challenge. He is twenty-two years older than me.
By Skylar Derryberry8 years ago in Humans
