Cover Photo: Dvidshub via Flickr
Dvidshub via Flickr

Why Will You Follow Me to War, Little Brother?

Sometimes I don’t want my wife to touch me. I grow anxious and sweaty at the thought of her behind me as we ascend the stairs to bed. I pass it off like it’s funny.

Breathe. Just breathe.

Why? It’s something I feel like I have to do. I’m sorry,I’m so sorry.How did this happen? How did this happen? But how did this happen?


Matt Young holds an MA in Creative Writing from Miami University and is the recipient of fellowships with Words After War and the Carey Institute for Global Good. His work can be found in Tin House, Word Riot, the Rumpus,  Consequence, and elsewhere. He is a combat veteran, and lives in Olympia, Washington, where he teaches writing. His first book, Eat the Apple, a memoir of lyrical flash essays is due out February 2018 from Bloomsbury Publishing. Visit his website www.mattyoungauthor.com and follow him on Twitter at young_em_see.