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to my funny ass tell you about my day.”

We didn’t talk romance, or the future, or anything but this

perfect kind of promise: She wasn’t saying she’d wait.

She wasn’t saying she’d put her life on hold.

But she said she’d hold a space for me

to lay my worries, and hear her say,

“I got you. I got you. For this horizon and tomorrow’s.”

Back in my bed, in the apartment

where Mami and Tía slept,

I had what felt like the first dream

I’d remembered in a long time.

I was in the pilot seat. And Melody

was sitting next to me.

“Take her on up,” Melody said.

“Yes, Captain,” I responded, and we smiled.

I taxied, and pushed forward the thruster.

And the nose tilted and nuzzled

the sky, and the engine hummed in such a way

my entire body trembled, and the sun shone

but I had on aviator glasses,

and when I looked at the ground I saw

Mami and Tía, and they were holding hands, and looking up.

And I kept rising and rising, until I was knitted into the sky

and everywhere was mine, and possible between my hands

and I was so, so grateful to have lived inside of that dream

for a little while.

Second Line, First Dance

Farrah Rochon

I knew I should have worn my black skirt.

Not only does my ass look fire in it, but it’s both professional and stylish, the ultimate confidence booster. If there is one thing I need today, it’s a confidence boost.