Where Abortion is Completely Illegal.
About five years ago, I volunteered in Nicaragua for six months translating for a nonprofit and tutoring kids after school.
In Nicaragua, abortion is completely illegal—even in cases of rape, incest, or perilous health concerns. And I learned one thing—fast.
When abortion is illegal, pregnancy is a weapon.
Fourteen-year-old girls…
Within a relationship, at work, and from complete strangers.
Within a Relationship
I remember being in an abusive relationship, and fearing what my partner would do. I remember trying to be good, but I always messed up somehow.
Once, when he was sick, I had food sent to him. …
Are you serious?
I recently saw a post about an anti-vaxxer who said he would start selling his unvaccinated sperm at a premium once most people were vaccinated.
When I was able to come up for air (thank you for the ab workout; I haven’t laughed that hard in a while), I was…
Thank you for the red flags, sir.
Thank you for calling me a whore.
Thank you for explaining my own job to me.
Thank you for telling me that you’re a dying breed.
Thank you for saying, “You probably don’t know this band…The Red Hot Chili Peppers?”
Thank you for using Bible quotes in your profile about…
Chances are, they already know.
I keep seeing articles about people who have had children…and their regret.
Having a child by accident, doing it because of social pressure, or doing it to fill a hole in your life.
When women express regret, they’re met with attacks. What if your kids see this? …
Well, you heard wrong.
“Welcome to Papa Chichi’s. Can I see your vaccine card, please?”
“You can’t ask me for that.”
“Vaccine mandate went into effect today.”
“I heard there was no vaccine mandate. On Facebook.”
“President gave a press release. We are going by that.”
“This is a private matter.”
“It’s not, ma’am.”
…
On getting to know a calmer version of myself.
When I started therapy years ago, I had the same fear that I’m sure many people have—that working through my issues would mean that I would lose myself. As an artist, I was worried about my creativity. My identity.
Who the fuck was I, if not a hot mess, a…
I saw all the shadows moving on their own, far before you ever could, and I laughed until I cried, but I did the second part in silence, and while I used drama to patch up certain holes, I focused all my attention elsewhere.
This is a sanctuary and a…
So what has kept me from hanging my diplomas?
I graduated from NYU in 2010. For the past 11 years, my diploma has sat in an envelope in my aunt’s house, then my mom’s house. In 2015, I earned my MFA…which then sat on top of my NYU degree in some study or closet.
That is, until now. I’m…
a poem
Cold as a baseline, hungry as an always—comfortable dreaming.
A foundation of fear, of fantasy, of hopelessness
tired of trying
always going to
sleep in late, miss the plane—
the strangeness of being more comfortable
uncomfortable.
Terror as a baseline, hope as stupidity—comfortable scoffing.
Eating the hopes of others but for…
