Victorian Sea Cure Does Not Work on New Edgewater Residents

CHICAGO, IL—In a classic lakeshore high-rise, Kaleigh (aged 27 but insists she’s “22 on the inside. Taylor Swift age.”) laid out on her chaise lounge that matched the rug and curtains. Hanging from her windows looking out at Sheridan and Thorndale. “When I finished the book, I knew its just what I had to do.” Kaleigh was referring to a copy of Persuasion by Jane Austen, that laid beside her. “When I finished the last chapter on Sparknotes, I just knew I had to be closer to the water.” Kaleigh, originally from Cincinnati moved to River North when she graduated from Oberlin College. “I would visit all the time as a kid, I just knew it’s where I needed to be post grad.” From commuting to the Loop, shopping at Artizia, and late nights at Hangge Uppe. She said something felt missing from her life. “Eventually I felt like, something was missing.”

She has since moved to the City’s northside Edgewater neighborhood. Famed for its access to the lakefront. She subletted the remainder of lease to another resident she found via Facebook. And has since been living in her family’s condo. “The guy here, Samson? I think. He just died. So it seemed like the universe was just. Showing me a sign.” She said it hasn’t been sunshine and rainbows. “Uber’s from Tao are like thirty. And then I thought, oh my god. I'm gonna be thirty. It just really changed my perspective.”

She’s not alone however, Raleigh (aged 25) moved her last year in hopes it would “woo” her heartbreak. “I was from Austin, originally. I was dumped and then I started to connect with an old high school thing.” Raleigh worked in tech but has fully pivoted her side hustle into a full time gig upon landing in Edgewater. Creating sustainable knitwear for your pets out of recycled water bottles. “So I moved, I always wanted to be somewhere with more water. You know?” messaged with her old fling and for her the ball got rolling. “I met him at this bar he told me to meet him and his friends at. Old Crow. Which, by the time I got there.” She sighs “He was making out with his coworker. It was a guy. He was gay.”

Paige (Aged 25) said: “Idk, I saw it on TikTok.” whether it was Edgewater or the sea cure. I guess we’ll never know.

The women however are brave in the face of adversity. “Im thinking of starting a support group. For women.” Raleigh says. “Grad school seems like the next move for me.” Kaleigh smiles as she thumbs over her next Penguin Classic: Catcher in The Rye. “Maybe counseling. Mental health is just like, so important.”

Paige: Maybe I could join a run club?

Meet the Author!

FRANNY RODRIGUEZ

is a Writer, Actor, and Comedian based in Chicago, IL. They hold a BA in Theatre & Performance from UIC School of Theatre and Music. Other training includes the iO Training Center and Chicago Children's Theater. Recently, their work was featured in Trans Scribe: A New Works Festival, which performed at Steppenwolf's 1700 Theater with Gender Fucked Productions. Other credits include UIC, iO, Second City, and Bughouse Theater. When not performing or writing, they enjoy running, writing one-liners on Letterboxd, and justifying another indoor plant purchase.

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