The Korean Little Shit
by JS LEE I was about seven years old when it happened. Sitting in the living room, as I liked to after dinner, I gazed out the bay window at the stars in the sky. There was a big etched vase with decorative feathers sweeping out of it. I’d often get lost in my thoughts […]
But Why Did They Adopt?
by JS LEE Adoption can be a lengthy and expensive process. It’s difficult for society to believe anyone would go through it and not treat the child well. There are thankfully several resources available now that dive into the complexities of adoption and loss that occur even in positive adoption experiences. And if you’re paying attention, […]
What Nobody Tells You
by JS LEE Little girls are raised to be aware of strange men lurking around schools in vans. They’re taught how to properly cover their bodies so not to appear like they’re asking for ‘it’. And when you’re a kid, ‘it’ equals sex. If you’re lucky, you don’t really understand what rape means beyond unwanted […]
There’s a Yearning
by JS LEE When I was a toddler, I envisioned the woman who bore me as a nameless, faceless saint. Her love transcended the physical realm. She was more like a spirit than a person. I thought her akin to the Virgin Mary in our Christmas manger, because there was never any talk of male […]
Suicidal at Seven
by JS LEE At seven years old, I already knew to protect my innermost feelings. I loved to write. A relative gifted me a locked diary—which I treasured but did not trust. In a household with surveillance cameras in bedrooms, boundaries weren’t up for discussion. I positioned strings in desk drawers so I’d know if […]