by Seohyun Ryu
In the background, there is a plain beige color closet
doors are shut closed
the wallpaper of the room draws luscious red and white roses
focusing on the big bed in front of the background,
there are two sisters
the bed seems too big for tiny preschoolers
as the little sister is sitting criss-cross applesauce on the bed,
the older sister is brushing her lil sister’s hair with a thin brown comb
they both have long black silky hair
they both have matching pink power puff girls pajama onesies
they both shine a bright smile
their eyes gaze at each other
reflecting the subtle love for family
what I didn’t tell you is that
the person taking this very picture is a broken man
a broken man who fuses smoke that fills the room–
cigarette buds spark flames
he grew up in a deep dark attic of Seoul
his family fell apart after the “ cruel money party” that took place in 1997
a year after, he lost the only person who would brush his hair
growing to be obsessed with the word “family”
he grasped his daughters’ necks in fear
no one knew what he went through
because there were no proofs
there were no pictures
what I want to tell you is that
i am no longer a preschooler
but under the name of the father’s daughter
my sister would still sometimes talk into my eyes
and brush my hair.
Seohyun Ryu is passionate in connecting the study of language and storytelling through various forms of art.. She moved to California during her first year of high school from South Korea. Her works have been recognized by Outlander Zine, The 309 Collective, LA Youth Poet Laureate, and much more. She is currently working on her first book to make her childhood dreams come true.