I am From.

Enzo Ambrose, Beyond the System Writing Contest

I am from long and heavy books

From Harry Potter and The Land of Stories

I am from the peeling paint and the soft carpet,

The organized kitchen, the radiant smiles and the bitter arguments.

I am from loud voices and quiet evenings. I am from wet plants and the sounds of wind chimes gently clinking together.

From the trashy pop music and happy holidays with family, with gift giving, with thankful whispers and happy hugs.

I'm from tears and fears, with saying goodbye to family and friends after a long day of exchanging sweet nothings.

From long drives and sleeping in the car with Mom driving, and Dad listening to rap and R&B.

I’m from the family arguments and the awkward dinners with me asking if anyone could pass the salt, trying not to cry.

From stupid issues and death, only believing in Santa for only 7 years.

I’m from waking up early, to reading books, and waiting to eat, blissfully unaware of what I should’ve done on Sundays.

I’m from California, with the smell of weed, coming from a line of addicts, and people in love.

From staying up with cousins, and eating unhealthy, refusing to eat fruit in exchange for Poptarts.

From the white, black, and various races that always interested me, learning how to take care of my hair thanks to my aunt who always did my hair for family events, while I did her makeup.

The hair and glasses I hated having, going to my grandparents house to spend the night, with the pictures of various family members, whom I love, in the hallway of my grandparents house.

With bittersweet hugs, and old ornaments, that were made years and years ago.