Pouring another shot, she put on a Billie Holiday album. Billie was such a cheery entertainer, she never failed to provoke hilarity. Perhaps I should take control of my life, she mentioned to Billie. She could always take up smoking, possibly, or learn a few tricks with a syringe. Meanwhile, she had plenty of days and nights to wax nostalgic about Mia before she died of terminal masochism.

from Loon Glow by Helen Eisenbach