The first year I moved to the U.S., my parents and I wandered through the grocery store on Thanksgiving day and asked the man working behind the deli counter if we could buy a turkey. The man pointed to the sliced turkey meat on the side. My parents clarified, “We are looking for the whole […]
Babies
by on October 17, 2018 3 Comments
There’s an 11-year-old girl who, whenever she sees me, asks when I’m going to have a baby. After trying my best to conceal my panic and shock, I gently remind her that I’m in my mid 20s and don’t plan on thinking about having kids any time soon. The girl refuses to accept my feeble […]
The Prophetic Period
by on September 19, 2018 18 Comments
Gurgle. Rumble. Ooze. Bloat. Expand. Bleed. Weep. Feelings. All of it. Too much of it. Chocolate. Ibuprofen. Netflix. More Chocolate. Rinse and repeat. Menstruation is no fun. The first few days are terrible. The pain is dull yet overpowering. The emotions burn with fury. I have a routine. I cancel all non-emergency plans, buy […]
Independence Day is a Hard Day for Me
by on July 3, 2018 4 Comments
Independence Day is a hard day for me. How do you love the land you call home, yet is ravaged by war, greed and corruption? How do you love the land where black and brown bodies are considered less than and are killed unjustly? How do you love the land that was built on the […]
The Sacred Pilgrimage of Woman Becoming
by on May 23, 2018 8 Comments
“Woman becoming,” I called the whimsical reflection I saw in the mirror. My eyes were red and remnants of last night’s eyeliner had made its way under my eyes. I’m not sure how it happened, but it made me chuckle. My hair was knotted, in need of a good brush. Maybe a bit of washing. […]
