The other night, my partner Triest looked at me sideways.

When she least expected it, the words finally came — the ones that captured exactly what she’d been feeling since late July.

“ You’ve got new relationship energy ,” she said. “ And it’s not with me .”

She wasn’t wrong.

Lately, I’ve been acting differently — distracted, obsessive, locked in on a new option that makes my heart thump faster.

Lucky for me, my lil mama isn’t the jealous type. Lucky for me, she’s understanding.

Because for the second August in a row, I’ve drifted away. Last year, I went looking for stillness and a higher sense of self by committing to “The 5 a.m. Club.”

This year, it’s different. I’m glued to my screens. Checking my phone day and night like I’m waiting on a text from a secret lover. Smiling at

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