"The Taste of Broken"

By Lucy Torres

Imagine going to bed tonight, not knowing the moment you close your eyes will be the last time you feel whole and healthy- ever again.

The Taste of Broken explores the painful question of whether a normal life is possible amidst the chaos of an unsuspecting and unknown illness. From the initial shock of injury, to the bittersweet discovery of romance, to the rupture of it all, this poetic journey travels through the psyche of a young woman in search of a new sense of normalcy.

The Taste of Broken is an autobiographical story about love- the love one receives in the wake of loss, but also the love one finds upon recovery: the love of life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781365850264

Book preview

"The Taste of Broken"H:\LT Documents\1. LT\TTOB\TTOB Cover.jpg

The Taste of Broken

Lucy Torres

Table of Contents

Title page

Copyright

Dedication

The Taste of Broken

Downfall of The Self

Intermediacies

My Beloved

Relapse

Dissolution

Trek

Footpath

Prologue

About the Author

Copyright © 2017 by Lucy Torres

All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the author. 

First Printing: 2017

ISBN 978-1-365-85026-4

Copyright © 2017 Photos by E.L. Jimenez

Dedication

This book, with all of its acute build ups of hopefulness and misanthropic turns is dedicated to the most incredible network a person could ever wish for.

A humungous thank you to the following:

My abuelita, Maria Encina, fierce, wise beautiful fighter - matriarch warrior extraordinaire.

My incredible namesake, my tia, Lucy Pulido whose name I wish to live up to one day in strength, beauty and valor.

My gorgeous cousin Misly Fischer, astounding woman of courage who provided a light when pain made everything dark.

My incredible parents, Guillermo and Nancy Torres, luchadores in their own right and unwavering supporters of my artistic creativity and eccentricity, especially during the darkest and unhealthiest of times. I will never be able to repay what both of you have given me.

My amazing artist brother and best friend Fé Torres, a talented cheerleader who picks me up when I no longer believe in myself.

My best friend turned sister, Krystle Castillo, who has proven that the purity and solidarity of friendship runs deeper than blood.

My family for being supportive through my loquaciousness, listening to crazy ideas throughout the years.

And last, but not least- Dr. Tamar Seckin, whose wisdom, patience and kindness saved me from this disease twice over in the years after this book concludes.

I love you all.

Origins

Every story begins

with a letter,

a word,

a phrase.

Let mine start

with

Love.

DOWNFALL OF THE SELF

In retrospect

That night,

a culmination of thoughts prostrated themselves

upon the night table of my mind.

Where was I headed and why,

why did I feel this void,

this emptiness among the things that made happy?

I felt the flavor of something

over dinner.

Within me there was a happiness never fully unleashed:

Trapped under the weight of a platonic