Recognition

“Isadora's book of poetry Lovesick has been climbing the charts of the New York Bestseller List.” Ellen said, speaking to the camera. Turning to me, she asked, “Could you tell us a little about your inspiration for this book?”

I made a heavy sigh and smiled. The audience laughed.

“When I was, I think 21, I met this guy—”

“Oh boy, here we go.” Ellen interrupted.

“—and he was a really great guy.” I said, tugging at the bottom of my Chanel dress, absentmindedly. “After dating him for almost two years, though, one day he started acting really strange. I came home from work and turns out he had cheated on me. I was so angry and upset. I eventually fell into depression. But then my therapist told me writing could help me sort through my feelings. So, that’s um, where this book came from.”

“So all of the poems are about this breakup?”

“Yes. It took me over a decade. Not only to write but to also get published.”

“Now I learned that that is also when you met your husband, am I right?” Ellen asked.

I smiled even wider, “Yes.” I said in a small voice.

The audience chuckled at my still apparent-girlish crush on my husband.

“I’d think we’d all like to hear that story.” Ellen said, touching my knee. I smelled her spicy cologne.

“Well, um, ya see, after being denied so many times I was ready to give up. But then I found this publishing company called Candle Press, and that’s where I met my husband, Edmund.”

“So this bad guy was actually a good thing?”

“Definitely. If you are watching, thank you for cheating on me. You put me through hell and back, but I’m all the better for it.”