The prompt is “What are your anchors?” As in, “What's holding you back, keeping you stuck?” “I’m glad you clarified,” Bjørn says. “I thought: without an anchor we’ll drift.” He coughs. “The opposite,” I say. “My mom’s an anchor: I'm forever dragging her behind me, plowing furrows, killing coral.” “Well, my mom keeps me grounded in the storms. You two would get along, actually. She loves Russian novels and watching The Traitors.” “Love that for you, Bjørn. Write for five minutes. Go.” On my phone I jot: no anchor, we’ll drift, then stare out the classroom window at afternoon thunderclouds.
Brian McNely teaches at the University of Kentucky, races bikes, and watches Love Island. His work has appeared in Off Assignment, Invisible City, and Magpie. brianmcnely.com Instagram: @bmcnely