September 2025
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We Were Bold, We Were Six
At school we played boldly, unaware how soon innocence would splinter beneath heavier cracks. Continue reading
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After the Glitter: a short story
Vanessa Phan once ruled the quad in Guess jeans and glitter. Now she works at a dollar store in dusty California, haunted by old scars, lost love, and faded nights. Between cigarettes, daycare pickups, and a CNA brochure, she wonders: is reinvention still possible after peaking too soon? Continue reading
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Cool Asian Americans: on double eyelids, belonging, and learning not to measure worth by beauty
While my body fights off this uncomfortable cold, I will share a little something with you that I scribbled down recently after reviewing Kaila Yu’s memoir, Fetishized. This is a vulnerable reflection about my own personal relationship with feeling beautiful as an Asian American. *** Cool Asian Americans. Import cars, pinup models, house parties, clubbing, Continue reading
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Books I’ve Been Reading: Fetishized by Kaila Yu
Powerful. Reading Kaila Yu’s memoir reopened some old wounds I’d been carrying for decades. Like Kaila, I had internalized a lot of messages about the value of beauty and external validation in an attempt to fill the void of self-hatred inside. But unlike Kaila, who was attractive much more successful at romping with the cool Continue reading
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Nicole Kidwoman and Her Dream Son: a short story
While eating a $1.50 hot dog, Mary reflects on her life, marked by the pandemic and her daughter’s transition to Angelo. Once disapproving, she struggles with her feelings about changing family dynamics and societal norms. Her longing for connection with Angelo intensifies, leading to a poignant dream of reconciliation as she confronts her past regrets. Continue reading
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Unable to Create…When I’m Happy?
I have a hard time relating to my older writing now that my mindset has changed. Continue reading
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Goodbye to Gareth: a story about a man and his orange cat (part two & the end)
Anthony, feeling lonely after the loss of his cat Gareth, visits a casino but finds it overwhelming and unsatisfying. While driving home, he decides to adopt a gray cat named Brian from a shelter, drawn to his story. In their new life together, Anthony hopes to forge an emotional bond with Brian. Continue reading
Eden Onpeng 