the masto guide to popularity:

1. don't put off breaking up when you know you want to. prolonging the situation only makes it worse. tell 'em honestly, simply, kindly, but firmly. don't make a big production. don't make up an elaborate story just to help you avoid a whole tear-jerking scene. if you wanna date other people, say so. be prepared for them to feel hurt and rejected, even if you've gone together for only a short time, and haven't been too serious, there's still a feeling of rejection

sometimes i still think about omar, the overnight clerk at the ramshackle old corner store by my old job in the bywater

one time, he told me, "there's not enough room on this planet for them to do all the things they want to do. so me, i'm gonna find someplace else."

the store shut down without warning late one october. outside, there was an old steel shelf lying on its side, with "close few week" written in blue painter's tape. that's been about three years ago and they're still not open yet.