Burnout
The consequential demise of an overachiever.
The calendar changes to August and with it comes a feeling of dread. My eyes scan the penciled-in events: Cinema Under the Stars, Beer Festival, VegFest, Cocktails for Conservation, an herb garden workshop, a blueberry picking event, an eco-fair meeting. And on it went.
A text from a friend says she can't help me with the festivals.
Something inside burns.
My eye flutters. My hands shake, a wretched thing strangles my breath from escaping. No.no.no.no, not now.
My body convulses. I reach for September, take a black marker and draw a line through everything.
About the Creator
Christina Hunter
Author, Mother, Wife. Recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship award and 2017 nominee for the Women of Distinction award through the YWCA. Climate Reality Leader, Zero-Waste promoter, beekeeper and lover of all things natural.
Keep reading
More stories from Christina Hunter and writers in Fiction and other communities.
Walking with Purpose
The trail unravels before me in a long snowpacked ribbon of blue under the pale setting sun. It's obvious that many feet have trampled this path, and yet, I stand alone amongst the pines. A panic begins to rise from the pit of my stomach making my cheeks flush. I turn towards the direction I came from, seeing the winding trail disappear around the rock cut, far into the distance. How long have I been on this trail? Am I heading deeper into the woods by continuing, or nearing the end? The thoughts bounce around my brain in a rapidfire argument against itself. To turn back or forge ahead? To call out for help, or figure it out on my own? I decide to keep going, wishing now more than ever I'd had a dog with me to guide the way. Animals have that innate sense of direction, something clearly I wasn't very good at. Tugging at the strings of my hooded red parka as I proceed with caution, imagining myself from a birdseye view; a blood clot inching it's way through the veins of the forest.
By Christina Hunterabout a year ago in Fiction
Descent
“60 seconds.” Aris tightened her grip on the overhead handhold. The troop transport shook like a leaf in a windstorm as it battled through the atmosphere. Dim lights flickered on and off as the ship’s systems were battered by pelting rain and narrowly dodged blasts from laser cannons on the surface of the planet.
By M. A. Mehan 5 days ago in Fiction
Victim or Survivor
TW: Mention of self harm and suicide attempts I'll preface this article with I have never listened to any other songs by Citizen Soldier. I had never heard of them until I found out from an Icon for Hire stream where they told fans about an "upcoming collab," being with Citizen Soldier. As soon as I saw that it was on Spotify, I listened to it over and over... And over because of the lyrics.
By Rene Peters6 days ago in Beat
Comments (1)
I could relate to this! I found it darkly humorous but also real. We all need to not feel the burn for a bit.