Red/Blue/Vertical
︎︎︎ Liv Archer
︎ Jan 14, 2025
Q Where
did you find me?
A I was riding on the escalator. I saw a teenage boy taking pictures up a woman’s skirt.
Q Were you sitting in the food court?
A No, but there were twins and they were laughing at each other. And when they laughed, they took turns.
Q Like feedback?
A I think I’m just allergic to ideas that don’t include me. I was making it work by looking at the world through scales of red/blue/vertical.
Q That is different from applause. It’s worse.
A I have a backbone, I swear. You just can’t see it through my coat.
Q In a useful way?
A Hey, my peripheral is strong. I have three hearts. I know my shapes. My name is written on the back of a polaroid picture somewhere.
Q So you think you could love me? You think you’re good?
A The pain can be pinpointed as a figure-eight symbol in the right side of my neck, but I know it’s psychosomatic because I can chase it through my torso and arms. No wait, it’s not a figure-eight symbol. It’s two zeros.
Q I don’t think you’re lying.
A Because my hair is growing. When is it my turn.
A I was riding on the escalator. I saw a teenage boy taking pictures up a woman’s skirt.
Q Were you sitting in the food court?
A No, but there were twins and they were laughing at each other. And when they laughed, they took turns.
Q Like feedback?
A I think I’m just allergic to ideas that don’t include me. I was making it work by looking at the world through scales of red/blue/vertical.
Q That is different from applause. It’s worse.
A I have a backbone, I swear. You just can’t see it through my coat.
Q In a useful way?
A Hey, my peripheral is strong. I have three hearts. I know my shapes. My name is written on the back of a polaroid picture somewhere.
Q So you think you could love me? You think you’re good?
A The pain can be pinpointed as a figure-eight symbol in the right side of my neck, but I know it’s psychosomatic because I can chase it through my torso and arms. No wait, it’s not a figure-eight symbol. It’s two zeros.
Q I don’t think you’re lying.
A Because my hair is growing. When is it my turn.
Liv Archer is a writer based in New York.