On a gloomy afternoon last week, some friends of mine and I drove from Lafayette, IN to the Indiana Dunes State Park. It was a bit too cold and dry to be outdoors for my taste. …

The tattooing has taken only seconds, but Lale’s shock makes time stand still. He grasps his arm, staring at the number. How can someone do this to another human being? …

“Is he ghosting me?” “Is she mad at me? Did I say something wrong?” “Am I good enough? Does s/he even recognize and appreciate what I’m doing?” Although these sound like the thoughts of someone worried if their partner/spouse is mad at them, these are also the kinds of thoughts…