In Flames

Dear Asian Youth,

I knew what would happen, that this wouldn’t end well

But I couldn’t resist those sweet green eyes that crinkled when your mouth curved into a smile

I knew that it would just cause pain, that my heart would rip apart every night, but I continued to fan the flames.

She told me that she would have failed in life if I didn’t love someone who fit her description.

She doesn’t care to know you, how you’re passionate about Neural Networks

She doesn’t care to see you, proudly wearing your Bernie 2020 sweater and advocating for all the issues so near to my heart

She doesn’t care to hear you, comforting her daughter every day.

“Every night I pray that you only marry someone who is South Asian”, she tells me- “Nothing else matters.”

Not knowing how her words cause immeasurable and irreversible amounts of damage

Not knowing how much I desperately long for her to feel for my happiness