26 Comments
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Zivah Avraham's avatar

Dissociation never looked so exciting and intriguing. Mine tasted of plastic if you licked it and I never got to see the stray pack of Mentos (that was a brilliant touch!). You portrayed how the world just carried on, but at a slant, never noticing your detachment, so brilliantly.

I hope you made it back down to Earth safely. And you kept off Hinge!

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Will Boucher's avatar

lol don’t worry, I’ve been Hinge free for years and intend to keep it that way. Thanks for reading Zivah :) always appreciate your feedback

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Zivah Avraham's avatar

Glad to hear it!

And you’re welcome!

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Caitriana NicNeacail's avatar

Stunning. I can feel myself slowly rising towards the ceiling...

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Will Boucher's avatar

thanks Caitriana…be careful of ceiling fans!

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Caitriana NicNeacail's avatar

Not hot enough for ceiling fans (or any other kind of fans) in Scotland so I’m safe enough 😉

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Mark Farley's avatar

Brilliant, thanks

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Jon T's avatar

Every time I read this, it feels like I'm whipping my head back and forth—rubbernecking and decidedly feeling part of the scene and the fragmentation theme. Surreal and psycholgoical and such an orginal way at it. Love.

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thanks my friend, was really inspired by the fragmentation. Wanted something to fragment my brain and my eyes

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Layne Mercer's avatar

A fun literary waterslide that lands with a satisfying splash•

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thanks Layne!!

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

Really enjoyed funhouse ride of this piece, Will. Well done!

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thanks Ben!

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Troy Church's avatar

Such an interesting story that really grabbed me. You captured disassociation and fragmentation perfectly.

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thanks Troy!

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Liz Zimmers's avatar

I. Loved. This! The narrator’s dissociation from his ridiculous date in the ridiculous restaurant is absolutely perfect and completely understandable.

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thanks so much Liz, yeah…pulled from some horrible dates for this one haha

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Nick Buchheit's avatar

Finally was able to make some time and read this one. As always, well done Will. Not sure I’ve found someone that writes quite like you. Bravo!

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Will Boucher's avatar

Holy moly Nick, you’re too kind! Thanks for reading my friend

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Shane Bzdok's avatar

I've been on this date. I feel seen.

This was a fun ride, Will, as your stories tend to be. Loved it.

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Will Boucher's avatar

Aww thanks Shane. Oh boy, yup, no matter how horrid a date is, you can always mine it for a short story

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Nick Winney's avatar

this is one of those pieces you know you could never have written. so unique the dream of coyotes, so personal the potty training...the dissociation of mother from the grinding reality of a piss soaked motherhhood grating against the care she cant muster up...the banality of the date, the forced weirdness of the meal, dissociated from food, the brain desperate to escape it all...i love the floating away sequences...the mind leaving the body to its uncomfortable social prison.

had to read it three times to really sink into it.

really thoughtful writing, Will. bravo😎🫡👏👏

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thanks so much Nick! Huge fan of your work, means a lot coming from you

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E.L. Zeitgeist's avatar

A Will Boucher Original through and through… but I would absolutely love for Charlie Kaufman to direct this scene!

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Will Boucher's avatar

haha that would be amazing!!

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Saint-Lazare's avatar

Trippy!

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