There was a man. I loved him. My blood sang when he was near – and every now and then when I see him, I feel like it still wants to. But life has changed, and it’s better that he remains a memory. He had all of these amazing smells:

His long hair and threadbare clothes smelled of squeaky-clean lavender Dr. Bronner’s soap. He used it for everything.

His fingers carried the faint odor of American Spirit tobacco. He rolled his own cigarettes because it was cheaper.

He was a musician, and when I’d come home with him after a show, feeling greedy with want, his skin smelled deliciously of whiskey, sweat, and cigarettes.

I’ve grown to loathe barroom smells, and fear the smell of Dr. Bronner’s on a man, even though I find it simultaneously delectable. That can happen when someone rips out your heart and sets it on fire, then walks away.

7 responses to “The Scents of Memory”

  1. azaleea entropică Avatar

    Short, but so intense and impressive!

  2. Ink and oil | Life is great Avatar

    […] The Scents of Memory | Compass & Quill […]

  3. Echo Avatar

    Olfactory memory is one of the strongest things… at times it can be a bit scary how just a little whiff of something can bring back floods of emotion. I think you described it perfectly.

    1. Anna Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

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I’m Nova

I have no “personal brand.” I’m not a girl boss, I’m not an influencer, and I don’t aspire to be powerful, inspiring, or rich. I probably can’t teach you anything, and there’s a good chance that there’s nothing at all of interest or use to you here. This is just where I come to talk about the random bits and pieces that make up my quiet life as a sober woman in her 40s. I’m engaged to the love of my life, have six (yes, SIX) indoor pets, and spend a lot of time gardening and hunting for thrift treasures. I also study classical voice (I’m a lyric coloratura soprano) and am deeply interested in all things spiritual and paranormal. Right now I’m trying to recover from career burnout and even out my personal energy, but my eventual goal is to become a medium and shamanic healer, using music to remind humans of the things that actually matter: connection, community, and loving all living things as though they were our own children. I may or may not talk about all of these things here (and sometimes all at once). Welcome!