Frame by Frame: Love in Motion
I sat at the kitchen table with my hand planted on a flower print cloth as my aunt, Tanti Sadjo, prepared couscous, my favorite meal, for my birthday party. I watched in awe as she mixed the grains in a large silver bowl, ensuring that each grain was coated with the perfect amount of sauce. Once […]
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Alone With My English
As I walked into the kitchen, I sensed the chaos of my family—the clattering of pans, the screaming of aunt over aunt, the toddler running between rooms. I sat patiently, languages flying. “It’s time for dinner! Hurry up and eat!” I craved nothing more than fading away at family events. It was too much sometimes. […]
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No Chance for Goodbye
Guilt. This was the emotion I felt when I read my brother’s text: Tayabo has passed. I quickly shut off my phone, staring into the blackness of the screen, my face distorted in the reflection as the gears in my head stopped turning. A small ringing noise was the only thing I could hear until my […]
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The Healing Tree
One spring day in May 2021, I looked out the window and saw the sun peeking out from the clouds. I realized that I had spent the last 445 days mostly alone. I had to leave my room. After a long day of school Zoom meetings, I felt drained. Every day was like the next. […]
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