Bright Star: She cuts like a knife with the eyes of her words.

We sat down, my attention was on mixing the salad. John was talking, then he wasn’t. At one point between the minutes or seconds he stopped talking, he’d asked me if I’d used single or malt scotch for his second drink. I said no, I’d used the same scotch I’d used for his first drink. Good, he had said, I don’t know why but I don’t think you should mix them.

Transcribed from Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking. The book is unpacked by Terry Gross’ interview with the writer, available for listening pleasure if you click here.