SNAP SHOTS

Illustrations by Iryna Presley

There’s this house on my street that I pass on the way to the park, with a little stone wall that is home to dozens of snail families. The only issue is that this barrier is right beside the sidewalk, allowing these snails to escape to the heavy foot traffic area far too often. I have no doubt that they have important places to be, but I constantly worry that they will be squished by the feet of unaware humans. So every morning, I start my days off walking by this little house to place these snails back behind the wall.

I like to think I’m doing a good thing, saving their lives and all, but they’re probably scared out of their minds when this giant comes everyday to derail their plans to leave this yard and go see the world. I wish I could tell them it is for their own good — that maybe that kind of adventure is overrated anyways — but maybe the risk is worth it for them. Regardless, I’m sure my neighbours have lots of questions when I am outside their house every morning for 10 minutes, carefully placing these snails back in their yard.

Kelly

Arrested development

I was clued into an interesting phenomenon while chatting with someone who graduated high school in 2021 and was disappointed that they did not get their prom. “You 2019 folk… all got lucky!” Did we really? Prom is just a drop in the bucket compared to post-grad exploration, and let’s be clear: a lot of us lost that, hard, and without even realizing it. We were supposed to get to go out and explore the world and try things we’d never thought of, but those opportunities got cut off by COVID-19.

A lot of my personal dreams of getting involved with live music and finding myself were cut short, and some of my peers feel the same way; there was something we were supposed to do, but we didn’t get the chance then. We learned to get comfortable inside, rather than going out. Now I rarely meet people from the same grad year (let alone the poor 2020 grads). It’s hard opening the door and stepping out when it’s been shut for so long, but what I’ve found is that there’s more than enough space out here. It’s not too late to get involved, and in my opinion: the more the merrier.

Gabe Martyn

Myriad hearts, myriad loves

This month marks four years since I, for lack of a better term, fell ass-backwards into polyamory. By complete accident, and in one weekend, I figured out I was a trans woman and wound up in relationships with two different people — my first relationships ever. It was quite the crash course, needless to say.

Now, all this time later, I’m still with those two people, and several others too. They share in my niche hobbies and nerdy passions, they bring light to the darker times in my life, and they also happen to be really heckin’ cute. I wouldn’t give any of them up for the world.

I can passively understand monogamous pairings, but I have to admit I couldn’t ever see myself in one. Sure, maybe it would be “simpler” from one point of view, but placing all the burden of care on one person, someone who societal norms and romance novels would expect to be my ideal other half — my “soulmate” — seems downright unfair, to them and to me.

Life isn’t a puzzle… no two people are a perfect match for each other. But with an open heart and an open mind, maybe we can all connect in our own ways.

Emma Hones

Fairy kings and midnight dreams do come true

I’m not saying I’m in love, but I recently spent a weekend meeting two black cats, a brother and sister, who are eight months old and blind. I was nervous about whether they would be frightened by me, but it only took a few moments before they were cuddling up to me, seeking warm pats and snuggles. Being blind means their eyelids are closed and they always look like they are sleeping. This meeting was to decide whether my family would adopt the cats or not.

Long story short, I’ve given them names: Oberon and Media Nocte (Latin for midnight), and I can’t wait to spend my days providing them with all the love and comfort possible. I’ll be getting a pet backpack and a leash so that I can take them on little picnics and walks, and be their eyes for them. I’ll be overstocking my cupboards with little treats for them. I’m collecting little toys for them to play with. I’m not saying I’m in love, but I have two valentine’s this year and their names are Oberon and Media Nocte.

Emmaline Spencer