The Stories PMDD Tells Me | Emma Tuthill

How cruel
to ask you
to love me.

How unfair
to hand you
such a burden.

How selfish
to ask
for so much
when I offer
so little
in return.

I am
so small
and I am
trying
really
trying
to grow.

But I wonder if,
like height,
there is a limit
on our capacity
for change.

Something
in my bones
that knows
this is as big
as I’ll get.

The same way
I am sure
there is a limit
on how much love
I deserve.

EMMA TUTHILL (she/her) is a queer writer and freelance designer based in West Michigan. A classic earth sign, if she’s not designing, writing, or sewing, you can find her hiking with her dog, collecting plants she doesn’t really need, or trying to identify new birds. Oh, and watching horror movies. You can find more of her creative work on Instagram @thebrandanthropologist, on Substack @tinyfullspaces, or her website www.thebrandanthropologist.com.

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Emma’s work is in Vol.5. Consider subscribing to support Anodyne Magazine and its contributors. We pay our contributors dividends for each purchase! Plus, this is the only place you’ll find an ebook + print subscription combo.