family
-
Reflections Before Giving Birth to My First Child
My husband and I have been sick this week. First he was sick, and then two days later, I woke up with a swollen, irritated throat that evolved into a runny nose and then ongoing congestion and a lingering wet cough. The worst of it is over as of today. I’m glad I won’t have Continue reading
-
Pandan in Autumn: a short story
Jenny sets out for the perfect fall picnic—wicker basket, apple butter sandwiches, autumn leaves. Instead, she finds a gray park, cold bread, and chaos. On her way to visit her grandmother, she realizes real comfort isn’t in picture-perfect seasons, but in croquettes, pandan cake, and family warmth. Continue reading
-
We Were Bold, We Were Six
At school we played boldly, unaware how soon innocence would splinter beneath heavier cracks. Continue reading
-
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
-
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
-
Life Is for the Living: healing from grief & the fear of forgetting
A personal journal entry in which I grapple with guilt over the healing process from grieving my sister’s death, and my fear that moving on means forgetting. Continue reading
-
Finite in the Desert: a vignette about stargazing in isolation
Stranded in the desert on a fine night, a man escaping grief looks up at the stars and feels ever-small and ever-finite. Continue reading
-
You Beautiful Dumbass: A Frank Letter from a Grieving Sister
Hey Victoria, you beautiful dumbass. Continue reading
-
The Perfect Daughter: a short story
A mother gloats about how she successfully molded her daughter into the perfect traditional daughter, only to be surprised. Continue reading
-
We Would Be Sand Dollar Rich: a memoir
Work was far from my thoughts as I wandered along the sand on a Wednesday morning, a week after my sister had killed herself. Waves curled and flattened against the shore as I ambled forth, my eyes cast downward in search of calcium-rich remains of mollusks. This morning, the beach—not the city named after the Continue reading
Eden Onpeng 