The Board is such a perfect externalization of that inner voice that critiques everything. What makes it work is that the story never lets the absurdity become a pure joke, the grief over the ex keeps breaking through and the coffee table that he designed, that "waterfall," carries so much weight by the end. The line about him choosing to "spread his risk" is devastating. And then she lights up in the fairy lights and the story somehow earns that moment of defiance without being cheesy about it. This is a gem.
The Board is such a perfect externalization of that inner voice that critiques everything. What makes it work is that the story never lets the absurdity become a pure joke, the grief over the ex keeps breaking through and the coffee table that he designed, that "waterfall," carries so much weight by the end. The line about him choosing to "spread his risk" is devastating. And then she lights up in the fairy lights and the story somehow earns that moment of defiance without being cheesy about it. This is a gem.
Thank you!!