much adored, much discussed, & pestered endlessly, even after death; the way i would sum her up doesn’t even involve my own words or creativity.

            a stranger online, by some circumstantial miracle, facilitated in me one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments of utter illumination & clarity. this stranger had left a comment on a series of photos of Marilyn throughout her life. as clear as a bell, simple & awestruck as describing the weather, the comment read, in full:

“impossible to think that she once walked here.”

            reading this was like remembering a dream from the womb. like putting on prescription glasses for the first time. the concision of their idolatry floored me. the summary of her mythology laid out bare, in ten words or less.