The style of this story is intentionally imitative of the incredible novel Skin by Kathe Koja. Give her the credit; give me the blame.
The following were invaluable resources in the writing process: Salon, Google, Poetry Daily, Drudge Report, AP, Bill Clinton, Leonard Cohen, Ed, and Golden Girls. Yes, Golden Girls.
Sarah Halele's story is true.
Works cited:
Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita
Fyodor Dostoevsky, White Nights
E.B. White, Here Is New York
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone
Arundhati Roy, Power Politics
Archpoet, translated by Helen Waddell
Janet Holmes, "Partch Variations"
Alice Fulton, "Fix"
Richard Chess, "Revelation"
Best of all, I had the inspiration, information, and patience of some wonderful people: Jen, k., Jae, this one's for you, and Jess--every one's for you.