ELLIPSES

A young woman falls under the spell of an older mentor.

When Lily Michaels—a queer, biracial, 32-year-old writer at a fashion magazine—meets and charms Billie “B” Aston at a charity function, she feels like the stars have finally aligned. B is the president and chief creative officer of a prominent beauty company and a powerful queer woman whom Lily idolizes. When B tells Lily she wants to mentor her, Lily jumps on the opportunity. As Lily deals with the demands, injustices, and microaggressions of her job, she becomes more and more reliant on texting B for advice. For her part, B keeps Lily on a leash while simultaneously keeping her at arm’s length: B reels her in with guidance and innuendos, and then goes silent. Lily is no fool but can’t quite seem to extricate herself from this enchanting correspondence: “And how was it that Lily could be fully aware of B’s deception—that casual reference to a coffee meet-up that B clearly had no intention of actualizing—and continue to actively participate in her own manipulation?” Lily’s relationship with B quickly becomes the center of her universe as she finds herself entangled in the older woman’s seductive web, unable to think about much else. Ironically, as Lily fears the way social media is encroaching on her media job, she simultaneously becomes glued to her phone, much to the detriment of her in-person friendships and her relationship with her girlfriend, Alison. While B’s characterization falls a little flat, and Lawrence’s exploration of digital media and the rise of Instagram influencers doesn’t amount to much, through Lily, Lawrence paints a layered portrait of a woman at a crossroads.

A fresh take on power, manipulation, and self-discovery.