Savage Forest

Dani's perzine written over the course of three years. At the beginning she's in Brooklyn, stressed out and having fitful dreams about her friend's death. She and her friend Tony have a trip to Africa planned, and although she's almost too stressed to go, they throw a going away party anyway. Dani muses that she can barely enjoy the party, having spent the last year becoming responsible. She has a job interviewing applicants for need-based assistance which is also sapping her energy. Despite her paralyzing frustration, she and Tony go on their trip to Africa as planned. They spend the summer taking long hot bus rides from village to village, and Dani's malaise fades, and is replaced by a calm wonder. Dani also visits Utah, where she hikes and camps, and upon returning to New York fears that it's the only place she can't be happy. She wonders why she denies herself the choice to move somewhere else. Eventually, she begins to come to terms with her friend's death, and finds a sense of peace.