50 Comments
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hibs's avatar

also had a near death experience via road collision — and i have to say, it really inspires you to gaze into the heavens or whatever and wonder if there’s anything looking back

wenyi xue's avatar

there’s this essay from Tim Kreider abt near death experiences that I think abt a lot and it influenced parts of this too

nellie martin's avatar

oh my goodness this is absolutely insane i love it, you came back with a BANG and your writing is superb as ever (:

wenyi xue's avatar

aww thank you so much <33

Killian's avatar

STUNNING

“you thought you saw the sun in the eyes of the preacher’s son” took my breath away.

wenyi xue's avatar

Thank u so much <33

Nadav's avatar

i reckon you're more Tantalus than Sisyphus or Icarus. Reaching for both but grabbing neither. Maybe the being Tantalus makes you the sun, not much the sun can touch and hold. agonizing as always cousin.

wenyi xue's avatar

Had to sit with that for a bit 🧍‍♀️every day the fruit and water both evade me while everyone tells me they r just within reach head in hands maybe I *am* tantalus

Nadav's avatar

always found tantalus more interesting than that freak sisyphus.

wenyi xue's avatar

They don't do eternally tortured little freaks like they used to (I am the modern day tortured little freak)

Nadav's avatar

Me too cousin, me too.

Andrew Leonine's avatar

Perhaps you already are God. In your human form you get to cos-play as Icarus or Sisyphus or any other mythological character your heart desires. All for fun. You were also moth with your head in the stars before shape shifting suddenly into roach when the bicycle smashed you into the street. idk. I'm just launching off your piece into playful tangents. It's all great child's play and a sunny way to start the day. Effervescent writing as always! Enjoyed the mental yoga and emotional journey. Your work never fails to make me think while feeling something.

wenyi xue's avatar

Thank you :) I like the way you put that - "getting to cosplay as any mythological character your heart desires" that rlly does feel like something only Gods can do. Glad to have been a fun start to the day + tysm for reading!

Ty J.'s avatar

Bravo

wenyi xue's avatar

Thank you :)

فرح's avatar

Had to read this twice: the first time in awe, the second in contemplation. Beautiful work!

wenyi xue's avatar

Thank you so much :) really appreciate it <3

Theodora Sterling's avatar

wow this was such a great read

wenyi xue's avatar

Thank you so much <3

Shako's avatar

Your writing style is INSANEEEE. I love this piece so much. I’m in complete awe. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to recover from this. ABSOLUTELY STUNNING, BREATHTAKING!!!!

wenyi xue's avatar

Thank you so much :)!! I’m so happy you enjoyed it

himadri ꩜'s avatar

Holy SHIT wow (can’t think of a more refined compliment sorry)

wenyi xue's avatar

Haha thank u <3

artemis's avatar

beautiful beautiful prose. made the inside of my head go all silent. felt like the sun burned into all the good parts of my brain and i was left with nothing to think about but divine light.

wenyi xue's avatar

Thank you so much <3 that was such a vivid compliment I feel so flattered

mya's avatar

you use “god” which immediately makes me think of the christian god but you use myths that were controlled by the grecian gods, is this because you follow the christian religion or didn’t feel the greek gods have much of an influence on people in modern times? p.s this was beautiful as i love many greek myths and study them

wenyi xue's avatar

I'm not affiliated with any religion so when I say "god" I usually refer to the general concept of a god which could be a specific Greek god or god in general or god as some concept. Tysm for reading + for leaving such a thoughtful comment :)

ramblingrose's avatar

so so beautiful. genuinely. ahh. i’m trying to connect w other writers and i wld love if u ever want to read my pieces substack has been kind of quiet and i wld love to support writers work and vice versus 🥲🥲🩷🩷🐞🐞🐞🍓🍓

wenyi xue's avatar

Thank you very much! I find a good way to find writers to connect with is to look for groups or editing workshops :) lots of libraries have resources too! Hope that helps

ramblingrose's avatar

omf wait ty SO MUCH !!!!!! like actually omg

mar ☆'s avatar

I really love Greek mythology and religious concepts so this was delicious to read! Also, your writing feels so magical and ethereal, I love it!! ♡

wenyi xue's avatar

thank u so much :)

ky's avatar

first sentence in and i’m already immensely in love <3 thank you for writing, will be thinking about this essay for a long, long time !!!

wenyi xue's avatar

thank u so so much <3