Reflecting on the Grist… 

the inspiration and the process

This story explores a “what if” a first-love couple meet up years after they broke up.  In the beginning, Lyssa is anticipating the visit, nervous about it.  Then, she reflects on the visit after the family has left.  I use the independent conversations between Lyssa and John, Kate, and Tiffany to create a picture of their lives, public and private.  Lyssa unexpectedly becomes the keeper of secrets.  It’s told in first person, from Lyssa’s point of view and is either her expectation or reflection, except when she is at the lei stands and baggage claim where she meets London. 

Lyssa’s experiences with her old lover and his family allow her to release him from her heart as a lost opportunity; her connection has shifted from John to his entire family.  The chance encounter with London, the man Lyssa meets at the airport, provides an opportunity for her to explore a new adventure.  

Although I received feedback from Ian MacMillan for many pieces over the years, his feedback on this piece in ENG 313 made me feel like a “legitimate” writer.  He marveled over the way I had handled the time jumps.  It was later workshopped in our writer’s group with Chris and Tammy, under Ian’s mentorship and included in my MA thesis, The Grace of Dark Times.