“You’ve got that pick-up-
what’s-left-thing going on.”
We are bowling; I hit spare
after spare after spare.

A sniper for the lone pines;
a forest for them to fall in.
Give them to me and
I will give of myself.

There is a boy who shakes my hand
after he comes, asks, “Still friends?”
I laugh because it’s funny;
I laugh because it’s true.

I lay my body like an open lane;
I am never spared the indifference.

---

Sydney Esther Thier is an emerging writer currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Nonfiction at Western Kentucky University. Her background in narrative film has allowed her to explore the intricacies of intimate relationships both on-screen and on the page. In 2023, she directed and co-wrote a short film called, “True Love Stays,” an ode to her beloved dog, Ava, which won Best Narrative Short at the 2024 SkyArts Film Festival. When not in the office writing, Sydney can be found in the garden while Ava can be found picking up sticks and putting them back down.