“i could hear my heart beating. i could hear everyone’s heart. i could hear the human noise we sat there making, not one of us moving, not even when the room went dark.” - raymond carver

| dark |

Creative nonfiction is when the dark part of all of us comes to light. We can't mask our shortcomings, our vulnerability, in fiction anymore. We have to be honest with ourselves and with others. We can't make ourselves seem like better people than we really are, because people see through that. Creative nonfiction has always been harder for me than fiction, but perhaps more rewarding. I've led a long journey in discovering my sexuality, especially growing up attending a private religious school from first through twelfth grade. I've only just recently been able to reflect and write about it in a way that makes coherent sense. I've poured myself out onto these pages, showed my dark side, and learned what it means to be human along the way.

>>growing up [insert label here]

This piece functions as a collage in three parts, chronicling the journey of my sexuality. Each part is meant to be able to stand alone, and also speak to the pieces around it. 

>>the things i never said

This is a lyric essay I wrote about one of my relationships. It shows a different side of my sexuality, while speaking to the piece above.