Your silence furnishes a dark house. But even at the risk of burning,the moth always seeks the light.

Where Papi is always thinkingof how to save another dollar,I'm dreaming up a Sephora wish listto request for my next birthday.Mami stands in front of a stove for hours,& I would burn an untoasted sandwich.I am theirs. You can see them on me.But I am also all mine, mostly.

People say that you’re stuck with the family you’re born into. And for most people, that’s probably true. But we all make choices about people. Who you want to hold close, who we want to remain in our lives, and who we are just fine without.

...and then there's a tapon my shoulderand I turn to see Papi,holding his hand out to me,reaching for my arm,asking me to dance."I should have taught youa long time ago,Dancing is a good way to tell someone you love them.