The Space Where You Were by Nina Denison

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     The Space Where You Were begins sharply with a vivid depiction of edgy encounters at a college party, causing the reader to wonder what transpired between Diana, a college sophomore, and her ex-boyfriend Leo, whom she began seeing in high school.

    Diana is hit with heavy nostalgia while returning to Leo's grandmother's home, a place that once made her feel safe. Tension flares while she observes her so-called friends betraying her trust. They do this by invading Leo's grandmother's home and disregarding her treasured belongings: dusty mahogany, crystal ashtrays, and formal living room. Diana's friends also betray her trust by ignoring unspoken boundaries created by former couples. 

    Overall, The Space Where You Were is a taut, haunting short-story that eloquently depicts the loss one feels while transitioning from youth into adulthood. Very often it's not the individuals one misses, but a time, place, and slipping-away version of oneself. 

    For more of Nina's work:  https://www.dreamerswriting.com/mudseason-graceless-violet-abandon-nina-denison/, https://www.dreamerswriting.com/nina-denison-2/,  and https://streetlightmag.com/2016/04/03/the-space-where-you-were-by-nina-denison/

        

#comingofage #literature #poetry #short-story #poet #AmericanLiterature #college #university #youngadult #romantic #timeless #Northeast #Boston #NinaDenison #Editor #writer #Fiction 

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