34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE

Just a movie?

Can you tell the difference?

34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE
May 01, 2022
∙ Paid

REALITY DREAMING BY LINDSAY SMITH 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 97


Edwina squints at the Eiffel Tower poking up behind a six-storey apartment block across the street. He stayed in America, she says. We got used to it. We never got married. I never wanted to get married.

She uncrosses her legs, knocks the table, spills the coffee. Jack reaches for a paper napkin, knocks the table, spills the coffee. The breeze snatches a paper napkin and it dances across the table. (Edwina makes an offhand grab for it.)

I went back to America. I was with him when he died. The family wouldn’t let me go to the funeral. His brother took the estate, every penny.

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2026 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture