Anthrow Circus

How To (Maybe) Be OK When Things Are Not OK

ESSAY BY J. AARON SIMMONS
PHOTOS BY MANUELA THAMES

I vividly remember walking across campus that morning on my way to teach my Introduction to Philosophy course. I was roughly 20 feet from the door to the classroom building when my phone rang. It was my sister.

I answered. “Hey toots, I am heading into class. Can I call you back in an hour?”

Her response stopped me in my tracks. It was clear she had been crying. “Yeah, that’s fine,” she said. “I just wanted to tell you that [insert-the-name-of-her-asshole-husband-who-I-won’t-mention] told me he is leaving. My marriage is over.”