They would celebrate her.

WAITING FOR THE SIGN BY MAZI KAZEMI 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 86

What she really wanted was an alternate universe where mom and dad congratulated her and told her how great she would do in this next chapter in her life, in college. They would celebrate her. 

I woke up to four missed calls from Zed. Before I could throw off the covers the phone rang again. “He’s not picking up, Felipé.” “It’s still early,” I said. “It’s Mother’s Day,” Zed said.

 I wanted to nurture the plants.

THOSE PEOPLE! BY WEIYU DU 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 86

My mother had a balcony of aloe, cape jasmines, and Chinese asparagus. I killed all of them except the aloe but with good intentions. I wanted to nurture the plants.