BY KAZEMBE ANGLIN '22

Strung Up by Fate to be Unchained by the Waves

By Kazembe Okera-Anglin '22

What the f*** Mom, let me live. I'm 13 now.

” Josiah pushed away from his mother who barely understood her youngest son. Whenever she showed glimpses of affection, although it was on a rare occasion, Josiah rejected it. To him, her hugs felt abnormally tight and restraining. Was it fear that he was sensing from his mother? Her fear that she would lose her son without a close eye being kept on him? Maybe it was. The invisible chains held by his mother were latched on his ankles and wrists and tightened when he wanted to leave the house. The outside was hell to her. She had been robbed many times, and the same thing happening to her son was an idea she dreaded.

Vigorous words were her only option to stop her son from making her nightmare a reality. Regardless of the attempt Josiah could still hear the difference between love and worry with every word she uttered to him. Never did it sound like love, just anger. “Josiah, NO!” said his mother while she got closer for another hug. Slowly he kept backing up further and further away from his mother. Tears slowly fell from his brown eyes onto his high cheekbones, as he slowly stepped back from his mother. He bumped into his door, which was his only sanctuary. A place where he had some sort of peace.

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