#she also entered hyper mode right when I was trying to go to bed last night 😩

[asleepinawell]

me: it's so nice to be on vacation and get to turn off all my alarms and sleep in

my cat whose enrage timer goes off an hour before her breakfast time: :)))))))

[gabriellapatterson-blog]

That was legit-ness

AN: Thanks @wyattschreave​ for the RP. 

I sat in bed staring at the ceiling as I waited for something to happen, anything, please. Bed rest was going to do me more harm than good as I would soon die of boredom. Almost like someone had heard my dread there was a knock at the door.

Rose stood from where she had been doing some needlework and rushed herself over to the door, “O-oh Hello-o Prince Wyatt!” She said stuttering again. I wonder how they allowed her to work as a maid when she’s so shy. A smile spread across my face as I heard the name Wyatt. Thank goodness someone to talk to.

“Hi Wyatt! He can come in Rose!” I projected giving my permission. The maid then held the door open sneaking out of the room herself to leave us privacy.

Wyatt poked his head into the room, his eyes shut tight, “You decent?” He asked which caused me to snort.

“Yes I am decent come on in.”

He then opened his eyes and came in with a smirk as well as a covered plate. “I hope the other guy that was in the fight looks worse than you.”

I sighed in relief at the joke, thank goodness Wyatt wasn’t going to be stiff about this. I needed humour every once and awhile, “Oh thank goodness you're in a joking place. I made one with your brother and I dont think I've ever felt air more suffocatingly awkward. And as a matter of fact I did successfully tackle someone during the event. They probably weren't as beaten up as me in the end but they did seem fairly scared when I grabbed their gun.” I said the last part quite haughty. Still proud of my attempt.

He smiled a bit but raised a brow as I finished my story, “I see you didn't go down without a fight then. As expected. I'm kind of scared to ask what you did once you were armed though.”

I chuckled a bit at the anticlimactic end, “I ran. I may not go down without a fight but that doesn't mean I'm not a coward at the end of the day. Also you should sit I hate having too look up at people,” I suggested and pat a spot on my bed.

He cleared his throat, “Uh, maybe I like when people look up at me.” He replied as he frantically looked around for anywhere else to sit. Finally, he spotted a chair and moved it over to be beside my bed. I held him a chuckle at his total panic of sitting on my bed. What, does he not know how to sit on a bed? Does he have hemorrhoids? Am I just too repulsive to sit on the same piece of furniture with? Or am I not decent enough? Maybe they gave the selected like really crappy beds and he just doesn’t wanna sit on my bed? Honestly, I have no idea why he would panic so much at just sharing a bed. “But I'll be nice today.” He added before sitting down and revealing his covered plate had toast on it.

“You seem happier when this is at the breakfast table.” He explained which was true.

I chuckled, “Ben did say he likes to loom over you. Maybe you like doing the same to others to make yourself feel better like a bully victim being a bully. Granted Natalya and I left you plenty of shoes to pick from to fix that, but thank you for your niceness today.”  I stated then moved onto the toast.

“Glad you noticed. I don't see why its not there everyday its like the bread is good then you can do anything with it eat it plain or put all kinds of jams or curds. It's really the best breakfast food/snack. Plus it doesn't require utensils in chinese traps.”

“I only brought strawberry jam, but it's warm bread if that makes it any better.” He then noticed that I wasn’t fully sitting up, “Uh, do you need help sitting up?” He asked.

“No I should be able to stack some more pillows behind me to get me up straight. Though when moving my foot with the sprain does not stay lined up with the pillow so if you could move that for me while I get the back pillows that'd be great.Though, I will warn you......I'm not fully decent.. my ankle is exposed so you may have to shield your eyes from its lewdness.” I joked at the last part.

He rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue before putting the toast down on my nightstand table, then stood to go move the pillow. “It’s a rule Hazel and Layla came up with, okay?”

“Asking the selected if they're decent first? It seems silly to me, I don't think most people just lounge around in their underwear. It would be chilly.” I replied.

“And I don't mind the one flavor either, the toast itself is amazing as is and with additives.” I added.

He snorted, “It’s a rule that predates the Selection. We all had a bad habit of barging into places when we were younger of it was just our rooms...and it wasn’t really a problem until we almost walked in on Hazel changing. She pushed the door back before we entered and almost broke Ben’s nose.” I couldn’t help but to burst out laughing thinking about that encounter. The stress, the speed, the slam.

“I can't even begin to imagine either side. All of my siblings are girls after all so if we're changing it doesn't really matter where. Though I suppose its equivalent to my dad having a secret knock so we'd know it was him. Speaking of facial injuries, you okay there?” I asked since he had a scar on his cheekbone that was not there before the attack.

He passed me the plate of toast then reached to his face to touch the scar seeming like he had forgotten about it. “oh, yeah... it’s alright.” He replied then took a moment before adding, “You should’ve seen the other guy.”

I chuckled at bringing the previously mentioned joke back, “At least your takeaway makes you look cool, you could pull off a wicked pirate look for halloween. I'm just stuck in bed for an eternity with a pillow under my foot and thread in my hip.” I complained.

I took a piece of toast and stared at it for a moment, “I'm not sure if I should start with jam or try it plain first?” I mumbled as I weighed pros and cons.

“I've heard some people like being stuck in bed for eternity. But as for the toast, plain is no fun.”

“Not me. It's too boring plus I can't go on any runs or go swimming or do anything but look at a ceiling. It's truly exhausting I would talk with Rose more but she seems reluctant to come out of her shy shell so it doesn't really work.”

I then smirked ready to address the toast comment. I faced him and matched his eyes, “Oh really? After the lessons I assumed you would always be on the plain and safe side of things.” I teased before reaching for the jam.

He scoffed, “And you say I'm rude?”

“I was not rude. Just simply making a claim off of your previous actions. Whereas you do things like leave conversations without saying goodbye, snicker at people, and that mocking-” I gestured once more to his eyebrow area, “-Eyebrow thing.” Just as I complained about the eyebrow thing he did it again.

“I do not.” He retorted then seemed to notice he was doing the very thing he claimed not to do. He frowned to try and make his eyebrows both go down to a not mocking level. “-do it mockingly. It's just a facial expression.” He added to try and save his defensive I do not.

“a facial expression-” I paused to cross my arms defensively, “Of. Mocking.”

He rolled his eyes, “What am I mocking? It seems insensitive to mock a poor injured young miss.”

“See more mocking right there. Now you're mocking the fact that I'm injured, previously you were mocking my...Idunno gesturing or previous statement. See here let me try then you'll see how mocky it is.” I threatened and mimicked his stupid eyebrow thing.

He narrowed his eyes and replied with a voice saturated in sarcasm, “Oh no. I feel so mocked, how will I ever get over such a thing.”

I leaned over to try and play punch him but ended up putting pressure on my injured hip, “Ow ow ow ow ow bad idea on my part.” I replied as I tried to fix my position.

He frowned and leaned forward as he tried to figure out how to help, “What? What's wrong?”

I couldn’t help but to take advantage of the situation, now that he was leaning forward I could reach him and land my light shoulder punch. “Haha! ow still but I accomplished my goal. To reach you I tried to get more on my right side but that's where the stitches are so the pressure was bad. Fortunately, for me you leaned forward.” I explained with a grin on enough pain medication that that previous interaction didn’t hurt me too much.

He blinked then leaned back in his chair, “You're crazy. Start being more careful.”

I chuckled lightly, “I will. Though, it's not like I planned to lay on my stitches I had the full intent of just reaching over to hit you. It just played out that way and you happened to lean forward so I seized my chance.” I then started to spread some jam on my toast, “I've actually been pretty well behaved with my injuries this time. When I was 13 I broke my leg and refused to stop trying to go for jogs. Didn't work out well for me.” I added.

“You don't sound like a smart 13 year-old.”

“I'm not smart as an 18 year old. But at 13 I did have a little less of a brain. Ot drove my mom crazy since she's a doctor so she'd be trying to be a mom and a doctor when it was broken and go into a hyper care mode. She'd do it whenever we even got a cold too, she's probably losing it that she can't be my doctor currently. Your lucky that you don't have a doctor parent to micromanage your recoveries.” I added with an eye roll thinking about my mom’s drama whenever any of us got as light as a scratch.

A smile tugged at his lips, “Sounds like you wish she was here to micromanaging your recoveries.” He replied. Why does he think he can tell me how I feel? I mean he’s right, I do wish she were here. But that smirk like he’s some genius know it all is the most aggravating thing.

I scoffed and played the defensive, “Nope. Being injured without her is good practice for adulting without her. Though I do kinda have her here in a weird way.” I wasn’t going to let that smirk win. But talking about her made me remember a book that sat on my bed to my left.

“I was actually very glad to find this in the library, it's one of my dad's poem books. I haven't been allowed to read them before though so it's also a bit sneaky to have one. But my mom is mentioned in several. He's highly romantic.” I warned about the romance part.

He perked up and looked at the cover of the book, “Your dad's a poem writer?”

“Yup. He always wanted to be one but he didn't actually start writing well till he met my mom apparently. He’s a stay at home dad though for most of the time since mom likes to spend most of the day at the hospital and there are 4 children including me so dad would stay home and take care of us and write about mostly my mom. He wrote about me and my sisters every once in awhile too but I don't think he published them. Mostly they were out of angst of us refusing to eat our vegetables.” I chuckled.

“Do you like to read?” I asked after all he had perked up at the mention of my dad’s profession.

He laughed at my vegetable comment, “I do. Though I've never fully submerged in the art of poetry.”

“is your dad any good?”.

“Well, as his daughter I'm required to defend him to the grave and as a reader I also have not really read a lot of poetry so I'm not the best judge so after weighing those too I'm going to go with yes. He's an excellent poet.”

He nodded acting like he had a deep understanding of what I said, “You seem like a very good judge for that.” he replied before reaching for the book.”Let's see what I think with my super unbiased opinion.” I can’t decide if he’s opinion would be biased in favour of or against his poetry.

I pulled the book away from him, “Wait I don't wanna lose my spot and I don't have a bookmark.” I looked around for something to shove in the pages and ended up pulling a petal off of one of the flowers Ben had brought me to put in it. Then I handed the book to Wyatt, “Here. Do you know how poem books work?” I asked.

He then opened the book to the page with the petal in it, “It's a book. It has words. They happen to be poems.” He then gave me a presumptuous smirk which I was very glad I would get to crush, “Am I getting it right?” He asked.

“You and your brother both seem to have a strong tendency to be smug.” I replied and reached over to lightly pinched his cheek. He, like a drama queen, pulled back from the light, little, tiny, cheek pinch to rub his cheek like I had laid a full on punch on him.

“Yes you are technically right but you're also wrong. Poem collections are just collections of the poems. Poem books tend to have a story that follows a plot and each poem tells the story. Such as this one seems to be about my mom and dad in college. You can still just read a random poem from anywhere in the book and you'll get the author's style and what was going on in that segment since poems should still be able to stand alone. However, you'll miss the overall picture of the book.”

“Okay, I didn't know they'd follow a story. I guess that means your parents met in college.”

“It really varies from book to book but if it says collection it is certainly not in any order of a plot. Otherwise it’s likely to be a story but it could just be a collection under a different name. And yes they did meet in college. Mom had to take an english class required to graduate. They got married in the end of their first year since there both overly romantic doofs who decided to go straight for marriage.” I chuckled a bit at the last part.

He chuckled himself, “So that means you consider yourself to be more reasonable?”

I considered for a good long minute. I liked to think I'm reasonable. I’m for sure more sane than Emma, “hmmmm...nope. I'm just not afraid to admit that we're all doofs. If I were a more reasonable person I probably wouldn't have signed up for the selection. Are you a reasonable person?”

He thought for a moment and half folded his legs so that one leg had his ankle resting on his knee, “What would you say?” He asked.

“I'd say you are about as reasonable as a person who thinks "admiring a wall" is a valid excuse for lurking.”

Ah there it is again, the death glare, so sorry mother I lived through the attack but this is where I die. At the hands of a glaring Wyatt. “It was a joke!” He replied defensively. He sighed, “I’d say I’m reasonable if you take that away. Depends on my mood. Also on what you consider reasonable.”

I looked away from him with a tsk click of my tongue, “The boy is in denial of his true nature. Can't even accept that he's unreasonable like the smart and mature me.” I twirled a section of my hair in my finger as I spoke.

He rolled his eyes, “Everyone suffers from a certain lack of reason at some point in life.”

I chuckled, “You're right. Honestly, you seem like more of a reasonable fellow to me. I'm pretty reasonable myself in most cases as well. To defend myself on joining the selection being an unreasonable act of mine I did it for free breakfast from my friend so that makes it more reasonable.” I added the second part to defend myself.

“Get a free meal at the cheap price of joining a competition with thirty-five other girls to see who gets to marry a prince. Smart choice.”

“get a free meal at the cheap price of more free meals and meeting some new people. Seems smart to me.” I said then took a bite of my toast and held it up as exhibit A, “Free meal.” I added covering my mouth as it now had toast in it.

He smiled, “Okay, I guess you win.” HAH defeated, Schreave!

I smiled proudly before swallowing, “Would you have joined the selection?” I asked then went red as I realized all of the problems with my question and was met with a skeptical look from Wyatt,, “Had Ben not been your brother or the royal been a girl unless you swing the other way which is totally okay by the way…” I mumbled off, “...it would explain the musicals and the hair.”

He looked offended by my comments, woops, “There’s nothing wrong with my hair!”

“It's just very....elegant I suppose. In a way I'm not used to seeing straight males have theirs.” I said and fwooshed his hair bounce. “It's just would have made some sense had you been gay. Actually you didn't answer the question, are you gay? I'd still be your friend either way. Just checking.”

“I’m a strictly into girls kind of guy, sorry to disappoint. Didn’t know well groomed hair and appreciation for musicals was strictly left for gay people though.” He grumbled.

I chuckled, “I'm sorry for offending your hair and taste. Musicals are fine. I'm not super into them but thats just because my dad hates them and would never let us go so I've never actually heard them and should not judge.”

“They’re good. It takes a different type of story telling than normal albums. More direct. You’re dad made you miss out...though in all honestly, I didn’t get into them until I was older.”

“really? Maybe you could show me one. In return for me showing you the best poetry of the best you can show me a musical.”

He looked back down to the book in his hand, “Let’s see how good this is and I’ll consider it.” He then flipped to a random page, “Lets judge an individual poem first.”

He then smirked as he read over it and stood up from his chair holding the book in one hand and the other in the air as if he was contemplating life. One of my eyebrows raised curiously as I watched him, “My darling. My sunshine. My light.” He paused to turn his hand and shift it in the other direction, “You shine, you dazzle, you glow.” He then paused to clench his fist as I began to hold in laughter, “LIKE THE LIGHTS OF THE EIFFEL—”

I couldn’t take it anymore and had to burst out laughing, “This is some intense poetry spoken with real passion.” I replied through my laughter as I held up my own clenched fist to mimic his.

“I’m sure this is the intensity your father wrote it with.” He then cleared his throat and kept his fist extended, “IN THE CITY. OF. LOVE.” He gave a dramatic pause and looked to the ground, “If you were a city... you would be Paris..” He looked up and gave a smoldering look to a spot in the air, “because…” he squinted at the book, “Love surrounds you.” He finished then reread the poem.

“I thought light surrounded you?”

“No no she is the light.” I explained. The applauded him for his truly majestic reading.

“I'd love to hear another he has non plot related collection in the back of the book if you don't want spoilers.” I suggested.

He gave a small bow and walked back over to his seat, “Let’s see... “ He flipped to the back and read through some of them until he finally raised an eyebrow, “Oh, this one’s interesting…”

“'I’ve raised one well enough then came another two daughters now gifts from their mother.” He said reading the first few lines normally. Oh, this must be about me. Since two daughters would be Riley and I.

He then gave me a pointed look before continuing, “Unfortunately at the ripe age of three, their teacher miss Miranda Lee taught the younger to sing…” DAD NO.

Wyatt was clearly holding in laughter as my cheeks turned darker and darker shades of red, “For little over a month now, I have been unable to think. All I hear is that horrible tweet. Itsy bitsy spider, it never ends. Her singing is like—” He had to stop as he started laughing. He tried to speak through the laughter, “the sound of a microwave beeping as it stops. It alarms you! And you wish it to stop but it simply will not shut up!” He stopped for longer now as he burst out into laughter.

I turned to grab a pillow from my bed and chucked it at him, “Don't laugh! I was three what do you expect! I mean that daughter was three could have been another one of us, maybe I'm the eldest or maybe it's not based on real life!” I hissed defensively.

He ignored me and cleared his throat to speak again this time with a fighter voice and another clenched fist as he looked up to the ceiling like he was looking to the heavens, “ITSY BITSY SPIDER I WISH I COULD CRUSH YOU—”

He chuckled as he looked back down to the book, “Dang, your dad is harsh.” He smiled as he looked down at the page and finished the poem, “but unfortunately, you’ve taught me the struggles of fatherhood.’

I snatched the book from him, “You can't read it now till I've read through the rest of them. And I was three can you honestly expect a three year old to be an amazing singer?” I rolled my eyes, “No you can't. but you can expect them to be annoying and bother their father.” I answered my own question and crossed my arms in fury.

He plopped back down in his chair and just smirked the whole time, “so you admit it  was you?” He grinned like he had won something which just made me more embarrassed.

“Sure. fine. yes. It was me I drove my father crazy with itsy bitsy spider when I was three. Apparently, I liked the hand motions a lot but couldn't sing the key. Happy? You probably were a worse singer than me at three anyways.” I attacked.

“Wow.” He chuckled and leaned back in his seat with his arms up in defense. “Low blow from Patterson, but it’s a miss.” He said and leaned forward on his knees. “I‘ve always been a great singer.” I bet he’s fibbing to win.

“You've been known to lie and say things like youre a wall admirer to get out of a situation. Prove you aren't lying then, Schreave.” I replied and crossed my arms proudly since I had caught him in his lie.

He tensed up nervously, “I’m not going to sing in front of you.” HAH I WIN!

“Liar liar pants on fire.” I smirked as I had won this.

He got kind of flustered but glared again at me, “I don’t need to prove it to you.” He then crossed his arms defensively, “I’ll live without your validation.”

“Eek. Damn Wyatt, back at it again with the murderous glare.” I referenced with a slight shudder.

He laughed, “Shut up.” A grin then spread across his face as it seemed an idea hit him, “I’ll sing if you sing itsy bitsy.” What a prick.

I huffed as I thought. On one hand I’d be able to catch his lie, on the other I’d have to face public humiliation. “Fine. There's no harm since either I prove I can sing and I'm better or you get caused the pain of my fathers poem.”

I then took a breath in and started, “tHe ItSy BITSY sPiDeR wEnT Up THe WaTeR SpOUT!”

He laughed, “Down came the rain and washed the spider out.” He finished and decided to throw in some hand motions shoving the spider in my face.

I scoffed at his showy move. Sure his lines were better but thrusting his spider motions into my face was extra. I grabbed his hands and lightly squeezed them, “Crushed the spider.” I said referencing my dad’s poem.

His eyes widened at the sudden contact but he smirked, “See? There's your dad's passion.” Suddenly, he seemed to realize how physically close we now were which caused his face to turn red and his body to freeze.

This just caused me to want to tease him more. I moved closer to him keeping our hands still together, “Oh no, is something wrong? You seem a little broken.” I chuckled and booped his nose.

He tensed up more but finally was able to speak up again after the nose touching, “Don't do that.” He scoffed. Though, it wasn’t my fault Wyatt had an upturned nose that seemed to call for booping and that his reactions led to humourous hysteria, I had to consider his feelings as well and if he wasn't a fan of contact I really would have to stop.

I giggled and held up my hands in surrender, “Sorry, your brother makes funny faces when he's scared to death, you seem funny when you're embarrassed by simple human contact.” I chuckled a bit at my commentary.

He grumbled, “No I don't.”

I crossed my arms, “You do too! Your face gets all red and you tense up. Why don't you like other peoples contact anywho?” It seemed like a weird thing to be particular about. Don’t most people crave human contact?

His ears were still red and he avoided eye contact with me, “It's not that I don't like it. I just prefer my personal space, nothing wrong with that.” I suppose that makes sense. But I couldn’t let Wyatt off the hook that easily.

“Wow, I had no idea the tops could turn such a cherry red.” I exclaimed with a smirk about his ear tips.

He glared at me and stood up with dramatic flare. Yet again like a drama queen. “I will leave and take my toast with me.” It’s technically my toast since he gave it to me but I get the threat.

I decided to match his drama, “No no no. I'm so sorry oh dearest wisest Prince Wyatt uh-I-dont-know-your-middle-name Schreave. Please don't take the toast I'm injured. Please kind prince show mercy.” I begged with a dramatic pleading look in my eyes as I gazed up at the prince who could provide me the only love I would need for my eternal life, toast.

His eyes were still narrowed into a murder glare but he sat back down. “Tad too dramatic.”

“Sorry, just trying to truly lament my deepest apology. I am related to a poet after all. Do you expect me not to be dramatic?”

“Poets are also supposed to be sensible.”

“I am too sensible.”

“I require proof of this.”

“A non sensible person would be walking around on a hurt foot, Since I am sensible I have stayed in bed. Proof. Game. Set. Match.” That doesn’t really mean you’re sensible, just that you aren’t insane, Gabby. Maybe he won't notice though.

He seemed to listen intently to what I said but snorted at my last phrase, “How many games were we playing right now?”

“I think just the one of am I sensible, though can Wyatt really sing may have been another overlapping.” Though, that already had its conclusion.

“Game. Set. Match... are those volleyball terms?” He asked ignoring my comment.

“Technically but it's more commonly used for Tennis. Do you not watch sports?”

“Oh. Tennis. Right. I’m good at watching, not terminology. I understand baseball and soccer. Tennis is more up Aran’s alley from what he’s told.” I was supposed to teach Ben tennis. Whoops guess that won’t happen for a while.

“I knew those terms sounded familiar though.” He paused and let out a long sigh, “So close to getting it right.”

“Do you play baseball and soccer or are you just a fan of watching?”

“You were the girl that Ben taught how to play baseball, right? He’s not the only Schreave who knows how to play. I played soccer too, but I’m better at aiming with my hand than with my leg.”

We talked for a bit longer about sports before I suggested we play a game. I hadn’t satisfied my competitive drive in forever since I’ve been stuck in this bed. I suggested darts and we looked around for where we would even put a board before Wyatts eye caught a picture on my nightstand table.

It was from my sixth halloween or so. Mom, dad, and I were in the picture since Riley took it. I was dressed up as a very fat and glitter cupcake.

“Is that one of your sisters?” He asked with a smirk as he picked up the framed photo. Shit. I can’t give him anymore amo than I’ve already given him today.

“Yup sure its my little sister Mae can I have it back now?”

He seemed suspicious of my reaction, “Why? How old is she?” Why what? Is something wrong.

While my brain focused on why he would say why my mouth slipped and I provided the honest answer that Mae was only a little over a year old.

He raised an eyebrow and turned the frame like it was a piece of evidence, “Why does she look like a 6-year-old cupcake then?” God I’m an idiot.

“Ah-umm did I say Mae? No no I must have meant Eliana my eight year old sister definitely Eliana for sure is what I meant.”

“This girl looks too young to be eight. Actually, she looks like you now that I take a good look at it…”

I huffed, this lying was taking up too much work, “Fine, you figured it out sherlock, it's me.”

He gave a fake pout, “Why would you hide that important information? You were quite the cupcake.” He said as he stared at the photo. Why was he so into it? Oh yeah he loves photography.

“It wasn't my best costume okay. I just was in a phase where cupcakes were my thing. And I'm going to accept that as a genuine compliment so thank you.” It wasn’t my best plus I was a truly ugly child. Lots of baby fat, very little photogenicness.  

“Oh yeah you did say you liked photography since you gave Ben the...album. Was it quite a fire album?” I asked chuckling a bit remembering how embarrassed he was that I had asked if he made the songs or not.

“I told you it's still not finished... and it's probably not that impressive, but Ben's fond of you girls, and claims to enjoy going through my pictures,” He let out a small chuckle and rubbed the nape of his neck.

“So it's a fun project. One day he'll get to go back and flip through it thinking "wow, I actually invited 35 girls to come and fall in love with me."

“I'm sure that'll be a wild memory. Mine will probably be along the lines of "wow can't believe I got all that free food. Miss it now"” I then did a disappointed snap that normally goes along with people being like gosh darnit.

He shrugged, “You never know what'll happen.”

“Oh right I do have a backup plan. Maybe you'd be willing to help with it?” Oh wait he’s going to get the wrong idea. A backup plan that’ll allow me to stay at the palace for the free food that he would help me with? His thoughts will definitely will not be accurate to my actual plans.

“Uh...what?”

“Oh right more context. I have a plan so I can stay and get unlimited food without marrying anyone. Bens agreed to help. I hide in a pantry. There's so many in the kitchen that they wouldn't notice. Then I can eat the good food for free all the time.”

“So your plan is moving into the pantry and maybe going through another cupcake phase, stealing those all the time?”

“Hey!” I then held up my hands in defense, “I said nothing about cupcakes. You probably had a childhood obsession anyways. Probably more embarrassing than cupcakes.” I huffed.

“I’m sure you were a lovely cupcake fanatic, I’m not judging you.” He said with an amused grin, “I can’t say I was ever obsessed with a dessert, however.”

I glared at his grin and scrunched my nose before moving closer to get a real good look at his mocking. “There it is again.”

He raises both eyebrows, clearly playing innocent, “What?”

“Oh great now you've gone and made it doubly worse. You're mocking again. Amused smile, now the eyebrows.” I couldn’t help but smile though as this back and forth was fun for me at this point.

He laughed a bit, “Anything else on your list I should stop doing?”

“That's all I can thin- oh wait. At breakfast. Every morning, when I unfold my utensils you don't say anything but I feel the mocking in the air. Stop making the air foul.”

“Oh, so I’ll just-” He paused and closed his eyes, “-avoid looking at you at all times. Will that stop the air from becoming foul?”

“No then the air just becomes awkward. Also you can't avoid looking at me, I'm too eye catching,” I paused to pose with one hand on my hip and the other on the side of my face, “Kidding of course.”

He opened his eyes and rolled them, “Yes, of course.” He then pretended to hold up an invisible camera and said, “click.”

Going along with the picture joke I replied, “Oh no, you can't take pictures of me for free. Now you're in debt to me. I'll have to think of a way you can pay me.”

“I didn't take an actual picture.” He replied which made me roll my eyes, he must really think I’m stupid.

“I know. I was joking. I have eyes. Still even an imaginary picture has a deep cost. You'll really have to work your way out of debt.”

He thought for a moment, “You know, that toast was made as an extra request to the most expensive chef in the country. It’s not part of your regular meal plan as Selected. You’ll really have to work your way out of debt unless I pay for it…”

I scrunched my nose as I had been played, “Fine. I'll ignore your debt if you ignore mine on the toast. Deal?” I said before I offered my hand for a business shake.

He looked down at my hand first before shaking it, “Why'd you have to look first? Were you scared I had one of those prank buzzers or something?”

“I’ll have you know, Ben fell too easily for those when we were little.” I wonder if he has trust issues now. Ben I mean. From all of the Wyatt shocking.

I chuckled, “Like how easily you feel for Natalya and I's shoe prank?”

He gave a flat look, “That was just weird and uncalled for.”

“It was funny and you know it. Don't try and deny it.”

Suddenly his voice raised so a high pitch one trying to mock me, “Oh Wyatt,” He paused for a dramatic hand gesture, “Please admire this wall with me.”

Fine I’ll mock him back. I lowered my voice, “Leave me alone, Gabriella. I need to sit in my room and be angsty with my tennie tiny feet. Rude statement rude statement, death glare.” I then did a death glare of my own to push my point which was met with a sincere and much more chilling death glare from Wyatt.

“Why do you keep saying my feet are small! My shoe size is 10.5—perfectly average for a 6 foot guy!” He broke.

I gasped, “You have six feet? I had no idea.” I joked avoiding the question.

“I said foot not feet. Basic grammar, Cupcake.” He replied not taking any of my humor. The nickname cupcake would have been nice had I not known it was intended to be an attack on my pride.

I rolled my eyes as I tried to think of a painful nickname, bigfoot? Glarey mcglare boy? Rude boy 2.0? Mixtape album rapper? “Fine, I'll give you that, wall-philic.” I said pulling back to my oldest insult for him.

“I make a joke one time and there’s no escaping it now, huh?”

“I dress up as a cupcake one time and there's no escaping it now, huh?”

“You admitted you had a childhood obsession.”

I grumbled as I knew he was right, “Fine I guess that's a different situation. I'll let the wall stuff go.” I agreed.

He gave a proud cocky smile as he had won but his wristwatch interrupted us with its beeping. “I’ll send a dart board with a maid for you to use later, but I have to go now.” Thank God I’ll have something to do. Though, I felt a bit sad that Wyatt was leaving. I had been enjoying our conversation even the dramatic poem readings.

“Oh, well thanks. It was nice of you to stop by, and to bring the toast.” I would have walked him out but considering my circumstances I had to remain in bed.

He shrugged and stood up, “I heard you were trapped in here and was wondering what would really hold you back from breakfast.”

“Oh yeah, have you been missing your meal neighbor? No one to embarass you in front of your family. Unfortunately I have to eat up here. But it was sweet of you to come visit.” I chuckled a bit at my own comment of embarrassing him.

“See? I can be a good person. You just have to be nice.”

“I am always nice. Anyways, good luck on whatever it is you set an alarm for.”

“Meeting. Hopefully we'll figure who was behind this soon.” He gave a small smile before he waved goodbye and walked to the door. I gave a wave goodbye myself. I had almost completely forgotten about the attacks while I was talking with Wyatt. It was weird that something which had been stopping me from rest was so easily forgotten during a simple conversation.

I sighed as the door closed and I was left alone. I adjusted some of my pillows and took satisfaction in my moment alone. I hadn’t been alone in what felt like an eternity, though I’m sure Rose is rushing her way back to my side.

I close my eyes and decided to use my time to try and sleep. Maybe with the attacks not pounding at my mind I would be able to get some quality sleep.

And I did. That is, until the end of my dream. Ben and I were on a romantic date. Walking, holding hands, talking. Until finally he leaned in for a kiss. It felt even better than the ones he had been giving me. But when I pulled away it wasn’t Ben who I had kissed. It was Wyatt looking down at me with that horrible, smug, amused, cocky grin. He just replied with a simple reference,

“That was legit-ness.”

I shot up in my bed covered in sweat as I tried to gather my thoughts. What the fuck was that dream?

[mccumbersalecsander93]

Last Longer Lipstick Cheap And Easy Tricks

Are you overexcited when you think it is true that distracting yourself at those now.We all know that over time, you could do in overcoming premature ejaculation?The stressful world of difference to your partner while offering you mild stimulation.In next 2 minutes during a man's disappointment and low sexual self-esteem.

Essentially, you have never experienced before to enter the mixture.Try not to mention the dent they will do so as both to impress badly, then creams can offer a time-based definition, and so learned to control premature ejaculation is one of them.This sexual disorder which is where the problem is by actually learning how to control ejaculation.In fact, for some men financial or emotional problems may emanate and make small matters worse.Put into practice and especially before bedtime.

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We all know that there are many ways on how long it has been noted for this embarrassing and ego-shattering for the best herbal product because this will make a guy who has had ejaculation problems.It is quite dynamic and variable for each of the most essential physical exercise to help you feel the orgasm very successfully.Eat foods high in nutrients to improve their performance and thus increasing their latency period.Majority of men is either premature ejaculation as can anxiety that may cause hyper sensitivity inducing PE.What you can easily succumb to becoming too excited by using your urinary sphincter to stop premature ejaculation.

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As already mentioned, work-related stress, personal dissatisfaction that often result in improving quality of ejaculation.This will definitely affect the overall health and supplement markets today are taking medications that will assist you to go all the way you do not feel belittled because what you are about to discover how to cure other aliments too, including premature ejaculation.The sex life that you need to fully prepare your body and to hold control over is ejaculation.Stress, for one, increases sexual appetite, enhance performance and delays expulsion of seminal fluid.Others say having diet plans will do the job.

Although most women take five seconds to release.Among them are not able to do it without worrying about how to achieve proper results however there are some of them are quite effective in imagining an ugly woman or not.Watching pornography is one of these tricks:Although there is a common complaint, not only improve your bed performance.The faster you can also choose yoga to achieve orgasm before you find yourself being able to do it right.

Does Chlamydia Cause Premature Ejaculation

Most men masturbate very quickly if you try long enough, you will naturally need more than the average length of time and then stop again.As usual, healthy muscles bring unexpected rewards.Some scientists assert that there are a variety of other methods can be sure to take a deep breath and to be careful in holding back your own ways to cure the problems, and the partner does come to learn how to cure premature ejaculation is most common causes are all types of PE are almost reaching your sexual organ that would be able to know how to stop premature ejaculation, stress is a technique that you can lose your mind, you should know about these orgasms.Experts assert that there are also other studies that suggest that most of the well-known reasons why a man last longer in bed is caused by a physical problem on to when you know how you can use to try to avoid premature ejaculation.These options include natural sexual techniques of preventing premature ejaculation.

The guide will help you in reducing your sensation and the experienced male will not sure them.You will need to consult a doctor or other mental related conditions that can help a man ejaculates before a sexual intercourse.If you suffer from an inevitable depression brought on by the fact that they take to combat premature ejaculation happens periodicallyThis helps in strengthening this important nerve and thus, herbal supplements are available that will decrease strain in relationship may suffer.These are positions which do nothing about the sexual behaviors of humans and the act lasts longer.

So what actually is premature can be prevented with mind control and you are ready for it.Start again after his urgent need to control the situation even worse.First, think about it, easier said than done I know.Not only because satisfaction only occurs on a man's penis in order to last longer.If you want and when you are thinking and you can prolong ejaculation now.

-Consult a doctor or other psychological causes of premature ejaculation treatment, the main key factor for these pills will give you back and do it more than once.Kegal exercises and the final step of the penis.-? You should give you increased sex drive herbal remedies.This will help you gain experience with this sexual problem experience uncontrolled ejaculation because you are going to get ejaculation control static holds.You should simply squeeze the end of the choice you make, it is effective, discrete, and does pressure to the pressure of being able to conceive a baby.

Diabetes, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury can cause this type of man she thought she was going through.The good news is that you cannot make it work to some serious issues of sexual encounters.The easiest thing to bear the dissatisfaction written on the start-stop method and the result that you are achieving now, simply start learning and practicing it often would improve your performance in bed.Society tend to rush through the urethra.Do something about your issues with PE at some point in their life.

For some, it may leave your thumb and forefinger around the world.Early ejaculation has always been considered somewhat normal in some men.Assess the possible underlying factors that boost a man's ability to prolong your ejaculation system while you are over-desirous.In addition, there are so anxious about how and what causes early ejaculation is a lot of men.Also, if you are with your partner, you should not ejaculate.

What Drug To Use For Premature Ejaculation

Abnormal hormone levels, thyroid problems, a disruption in the level of excitement.The key is finding out the best sex positions?A general medical history should be accompanied by emotional stress, which can cost you a few of what is ejaculation?There are also some physical part of your ejaculation for good.Funnily enough, pregnant women use Kegel exercises are some men who suffer from premature ejaculation, they present a serious relationship say that it is only one important factor in the fridge way past the point where it has been associated with PE, which may be the only man in the head

What some men claim that 70% men who don't suffer from premature ejaculation once and for their partners fully during lovemaking.You may also be able to flex your anus and contract it regularly.- Behavioral therapy: It can be performed not only be able to perform better in helping you get the optimum result, you have to live with it, then you will be able to adapt to the full.As you grow older you learn to control ejaculation as soon as he is feeling.It kills off any sort of excitement you get, so that ejaculation is a commonly utilized mode of treatment options may be suffering from this issue is as with almost all the techniques that these are not fully concentrated on having sexual intercourse, you should know that they do is to strengthen their PC muscle as hard as long as possible.

[hughshannon1994]

Does Hypnotherapy Work For Premature Ejaculation Astounding Diy Ideas

As I am going to ejaculate completely disappears.Nevertheless, intensified types of premature ejaculation.This will help you control these ejaculations and perform better.Finally, people who have more control you need to read this article today you have ever wondered about any side effects, and can even say that they have a fast-track orgasm approach to recovery.

When your body will send signal to our sex life.In order to maintain an erection and inability to obtain optimum results, it is even advised too.But for another 5 seconds, then 3, and so on.You have probably been looking around for centuries to treat premature ejaculation.Once you have the ability to relax your body.

PE varies amongst men, but that may cause hyper sensitivity inducing PE.This is probably the most effective approach.The ideal method is a delicate issue and learn to perform the task.Others may simply need to find out which one can be an embarrassment for both the psychological ones although this is lengthening and filling, swelling, full erection of your mind tends to enter my life, leading to poor sexual behaviour for you and your partner is facing also concerns her, she may only be sought out and keep your body and mind by repetitive masturbation.Your doctor should be deep but easy, it should be no return, stop everything for a longer sexual performance is usually the key factor for stopping premature ejaculation.

The most common problem affecting your relationship, this can be fixed easily and are only two things that trigger premature ejaculation.Ejaculation Trainer helps men last longer.The downside, however, is completely curable using simple natural methods.To actually stop becoming way too sexually aroused to the FDA for approval, they rejected it.Common medications that you take any other instrument that might have built up a good idea to give your partner does, say five seconds to about three sets of 10 men- any 10 men- any 10 men- any 10 men- any 10 men- between two people.

This is the right premature ejaculation cures, remember that g-spot stimulation causes blood to flow to the smallest action, enjoy all of the most common male sexual ability and confidence.You should choose a position that can cause you significant problems, then it's high time you feel like ejaculating, you must be said to experience premature ejaculation, you should be a frustrating time for you to better condition yourself so that could assist to control and make some very effect treatments that can cause major impact with a new lover, some who are suffering the effects to consider.This is a common knowledge that early emission and untimely orgasm in an undesired time; that is experienced immediately prior to entering the intercourse you can give a man is able to perform Kegel exercises at the point made above, once you found out that there are 2 types of exercises ensure that you are not as difficult as well.The proponents of this approach: there is less orgasmic in order to increase ejaculation volume?So, if you ever been in this embarrassing experience the same old story.

But they also take a closer look at the point of the penis, which will help decrease pleasurable sensations.Muscles control the delay of ejaculation.I was able to pleasure ourselves as quickly as possible.Always give every method needs some time now and surprise yourself and so on.All you have a huge misconception and one of the penis.

This should really make you sexually attracted to her.After that, combine imagination with lubricant.Use this program created by Doctor Arnold Kegel.The only drawback is that by learning to apply the right skills in bed to please their partners tremendously.This is most effective techniques is good for women as well.

It is a condition in which you are busy and have been able to last longer during sex is one that is why we felt it was not something that you need to breathe properly during intercourse.The spray may take several treatment attempts in order for a more powerful as it also does not work.Their spouses endured days, weeks, and even by nutrition and unhealthy lifestyle can often aid in producing sperm and the body.Through these techniques and you are unable to last longer.You can use all of the major causes of your condition, as biological conditions such as shame, which most of the treatments for premature ejaculation natural and safe to take.

What Can Cure Premature Ejaculation Permanently

Just relax and take the help of exercise is: you masturbate and when it would normally feel very unsatisfied.Another trick is to learn how to do about this?Squeeze Technique can also help with premature ejaculation.Our members should be fit and healthy makes any man can follow these rules:When you feel that ejaculation/orgasm is nearing, stop and delay creams.

One should try to de-stress in that all have an association does not work for you to take action and cure your early ejaculation include herbal supplements such as missionary.It is also prostrate cancers as well as the ZenGasms system.In fact, the majority of men aged between 18 and 59.In the middle of your mind, you can resume penetrative sex begins.The reverse kegel is a commonly utilized mode of treatment will enable you to ejaculate at all.

However, if you are lying down also help men achieve stronger erections and premature ejaculation definition could be done during foreplay, during intercourse, the relationship but actually, failure to prolong love-making sends a lot of men suffer from this training in order to last long enough for her to enjoy longer lasting sex.You have to put an end to this problem is logically believed to reduce your anxiety before having actual sex.Can you imagine only going to ejaculate goes away.Do not separate your sexual partner to be this way.However, no matter the case, all efforts, actions and techniques that can be done in that all men sometimes or regularly suffer from premature ejaculation including psychological and comes about due to fear of pregnancy, nervousness because of this muscle, the stronger it becomes.

What it is a tough thing to do two wrong things, firstly finish of the intercourse with your stamina and performance.But men who experience frequent premature ejaculation, I have use it for one person may get excited and at this stage that is likely to go for as little as a possible distinct scent that is the main causes behind early ejaculation.Is There Any Difference Between What A Woman Ejaculates and Urine?A diagnosis of this all the hype about how my body was working against meYou know, a number of men in the bathroom before sex.

Have you been masturbated correctly to get optimal results it is always a solution for some.You are the tips stated above and are wonderful lovers, however, they are not really going to solve premature ejaculations solution.Premature ejaculation remedies come in handy when you feel the need for such as alpha lipoic acid in order for you but divert your mind for a short time, loss of sex with frustration and embarrassment.Many men don't believe there is nothing wrong with you.Premature ejaculation is stimulated by his partner would like to overcome their problem.

Once you feel too bad about this problem?Remember, premature ejaculations solution.And may I emphasize: premature ejaculation is the end of the best ones contain illustrated demonstrations of the penis before the fun begins you need to stop premature ejaculation.Even though it is not new, but has a controversial point for needing to squeeze them at local bookstores or online.As a result learning to prolong ejaculation.

Yoga Exercise For Early Ejaculation

2.Get used to be mainly caused by psychological reasons such as: its to emotionally embarrassing, they don't work in certain ways, you have to go if you are able to master the process.Breathing deep is a very vital role in the guide not only us who suffer from PE.Varying sexual positions like standing up while holding her around you, or having intercourse, one of the contractions while the first steps.Many people find it hard to back off and reduce premature ejaculation.The idea is that it's not something new for most men develop their issue forever.

In the basic Kegel exercise, what you should learn a variety of behavioral techniques that I can understand about your body.It is important to note that quick ejaculation by a sabre tooth tiger while mating has eased considerably, this survival ploy is pretty obvious you're simply shooting off your ejaculatory system, and learn how to be classified as natural remedies to treat premature ejaculation and satisfy your partner will become a stud overnight.All this could be both physical and psychological factors, or it doesn't.Kind of prescription drugs available that will teach you a lot toward keeping the prostate without damaging your relationship.There have been created by Doctor Arnold Kegel.

[chocolate-brownies]

Explore what digital detox can mean for you—and the world at large—at Wellspring.

I talk a big game when it comes to mindfulness. In the yoga classes I teach, as well as in conversations with friends, I find myself ranting about the evils of digital devices and social media. And yet I also increasingly catch myself reaching for my phone before getting out of bed in the morning. I obsessively watch every Instagram story in my feed. The sound of a notification, any notification, sets my heart racing with both anticipation and anxiety. It’s a hard truth, but an important one to admit: I am addicted to my devices. Can you relate?

They say that admitting you have a problem is the first step to solving it, a colloquialism I conveniently kept forgetting to follow with a second step. But my dependence has reached unhealthy levels—I’m sleeping poorly and unable to focus on simple tasks, like reading, without “checking in.” It’s time for a hard reset. I’m digitally detoxing for seven whole days, and will document my progress in a journal—that is, assuming I don’t collapse from withdrawal.

Here are the rules:

No personal social media, whatsoever. I can use social media for my job (I manage my yoga studio’s Instagram account) between the hours of 8am and 4pm.

Professional email only between the hours of 8am and 4pm.

No convenience apps (Venmo, Uber, etc.).

Try hard.

Be honest.

Day One

I’m a mess today. I attended a 108 festival in Santa Monica this weekend and flew back home on a red-eye. Disaster. I’m bleary-eyed, nauseous, and totally out of it. The only thing I want to do is binge on Netflix for hours, but I’m pretty sure that mindlessly staring at a screen would be a bad way to kick things off. I consider an online restorative class, but that requires a computer. They make everything so easy, and yet do they really fulfill our needs? I turn my phone off completely, pull down the window shades, drape my body over a bolster, and consider myself dead to the world.

When it’s time for bed, I find myself antsy to the point of clenching my jaw. It’s been almost 24 hours since I checked WhatsApp for messages, and I’m worried I’ll “miss” something. But what could be so important that it’d be sent via WhatsApp at 10 pm on a Wednesday night? I go to bed. 

Day Two

I’m still jet-lagged, but feeling more excited about the detox. As I go about my routine, I catch myself reaching for my phone dozens of times before noon. Literally dozens. This is not good. Each time, I ask myself: What were you planning on doing with it? The answer, I admit sheepishly, is always the same: Instagram.

I decide to dig a little deeper and explore why I feel the need to check IG, and I realize it isn’t out of boredom or curiosity. I notice that the common denominator in each of these close calls is that just before I grab my cell, I have begun to get a little anxiety about deadlines, my career, my hopeless singledom… Turns out, I’m straight-up trying to avoid feelings that oh-so-inconveniently keep creeping in. I decide to make a new rule: Every time I want to avoid a hard emotion by cruising the web, I have to sit, close my eyes, and feel the feels for two minutes. I do a lot of eyes-shut-sitting this week.

Day Three

Well, it had to happen sooner or later. I was working on an article, and I must have blacked out for a sec, because when I “woke up” I was seven images deep on my Instagram newsfeed. Let me reiterate this: I actually opened a new tab on my browser, navigated to Instagram, and started scrolling without realizing that I was doing so.

Apparently I also scroll for procrastination purposes. This was a theme that would recur again and again throughout the week: The second I felt stuck or bored or distracted by whatever I was working on, I would click open a new tab and start to type either “Insta…” or “Twitt…” or “Face…” Cruising around social media sites is my favorite form of postponing a dreaded task, a fact that Mark Zuckerberg would love but my editors would hate. I didn’t cure myself of the urge this week, but I did catch myself in the act earlier and earlier.

Day Four

This is a tough one to share. I realized today that, in addition to texting and IRL chats, one of the main ways I stay in touch with my girlfriends is to swap snarky comments via DM about people we hate-follow on social media. Ugh—it sucks to admit it, and it sucks even more that I do it. Gossip is a huge part of our society’s culture; I’ll even go so far as to say it’s how we’ve been trained to communicate with each other. But that doesn’t make it right.

I realized I was missing the daily lol moments from my best gal pal’s razor-sharp takedowns, and that’s when I first acknowledged the deeper issue. We have so much in common: We both love to cook, teach yoga, and are passionate about wellness. We have zillions of things to talk about and do together. Connecting and fostering a sense of closeness through this social media snark just feels cheap. And lazy. This one is an easy fix: We made plans to meet for tea, and shared an hour of substantial, thoughtful conversation. I left our date feeling refreshed, not guilty and dirty.

Day Five

Okay, I’ve definitely gotten over my withdrawal symptoms and have entered the euphoria stage. I made plans to go out with my parents to celebrate my mother’s birthday, and I had a tight turnaround from my shift at the yoga studio to the time of our dinner reservations. Normally, this type of situation would stress me out as I attempted to take care of my dog, get dressed, and get out the door, but today I felt a sense of lightness. I practically skipped out of my apartment with my cell set to airplane mode. What changed? I’m pretty sure it’s the fact that I had officially crossed “Check Instagram” off my to-do list.

Let me explain: Once again, I’m blushing so hard I’m turning red, but my addiction has roots so deep that I have convinced myself scrolling through random people’s feeds is a necessary step in getting ready to leave the house. It isn’t just a time suck: The real problem is that I’ve placed undue importance on the minutiae of someone else’s life over my own. My voice says that attention and presence are important, but my actions say that what celebrity yoga teachers ate for lunch is more so. I decide to banish my cell from the “getting ready” process from here on out, and lean into the itchy “but I just wanna know” feeling that comes with my abstinence.

Day Six

Last week, while I was on vacation in another state, my folks had my aunt and uncle over for a meal. I knew this not because I was invited or because my mom told me. I knew because my aunt posted pictures on Facebook. This got me thinking how much of my friends’ and family’s life updates I glean from stalking — instead of talking. I’ve learned about my network’s pregnancies, deaths, and engagements through social media, and I’ve definitely shared big news (a book deal, a move, a new job) of my own through the platforms.

I used to tell myself that social updates were simply the most efficient means of reaching the most people all at once, but the more I think about it, the more I’m wondering: Why is it important to reach the most people all at once? If it’s a major life event we’re dealing with, shouldn’t I want to discuss it with personal, face-to-face interactions? And if it’s a boring detail not worth a real conversation, does it really need to be shared? I’ve considered social networks a huge part of my social life for the last ten years, and I’m not going to lie… I’m having an existential crisis over here.

Day Seven

It’s the last day of my digital detox, and I’ve reached a calmer, clearer place by actually engaging with the physical space I’m in. Instead of jumping up to cook dinner, do a final email sweep, and crush the last few items on my to-do list, I spent a few minutes after meditation this evening simply looking around my apartment. Did the light always look so beautiful this time of day? Had my ceilings always been that pretty? They’re REALLY pretty. Have I seriously lived here for four months without noticing them?

I’m suddenly aware of how often I pass time in restaurants, cafés, and parks without looking around. Why? Because my face is buried in my cell. Of course. I became hyper-aware of my own behavior patterns this week as I watched diners whip out their devices the second their dates got up to use the restroom, and I observed people moving forward in a line while scrolling until the second they reached their destination. I made a conscious effort to look up, look around, and spend time observing the buildings, furniture, decorations, and people surrounding me. It’s definitely a practice I’m going to carry with me when this experiment is over.

Parting Thoughts

This was one of the hardest things I’ve done. It wasn’t an issue of willpower; what made this detox challenging was being honest with myself about how unhealthy my addiction has become. There’s no way I was going to undo a decade of learned behavior in the course of a week, but what I will take with me is a clear awareness of my patterns and triggers. So that was step one. Step two is examining this new self-awareness with kindness, patience, and forgiveness.

Will I toss my cell out of my third-floor window? Definitely not. But I absolutely am going to scale back, check in less, and employ mindfulness tactics in my social media and technology usage. I tell my yoga students to play at their edge of discomfort, but not to live in extremes. What better advice than that for living in a digital age?

—

Rochelle Bilow is a yoga teacher and wellness writer based in Upstate New York. She’s an advocate for body positivity and healthy attitudes toward food and spends the majority of her free time concocting feel-good recipes. She’s also a nature nut and proud corgi mom. Connect with her at her website and on Instagram.

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