By Tony Ngo A blood-soaked towel laid in the middle of the sidewalk. Dried splatters of crimson red in the biting winter air, the once white cloth sat beneath the hum of passing cars and trucks on the overarching highway above— a formidable concrete slab physically dividing Little Saigon from the rest of the Chinatown … Read More

By Skye Steenberg I would say I don’t remember a lot, but unfortunately, I do. Motel rooms that smelt of day-old pizza. The sound of broken glass, silent tears, and the murmur of 911 on the phone. Beer bottles over-flowing the bathtub and those hideous wooden panels that covered the courtroom. The continuous bobbing of … Read More

By Owen Dion Like a mirage in the heat of a desert, a copper-toned gate emerges from surrounding fields of dried-up, flattened earth. Picture the Arch of Constantine— if the Romans had favored beige stucco and palm trees over marble and grandeur. Inside, a gated community of color-coordinated, rust-toned McMansions and streets that end without … Read More

By Navarone Peterson We got two calls that day. Two pieces of news, neither of them good. I say we but it was my mom’s phone that rang. The first piece was about my sister’s dog. She had just found out her pup had diabetes, and it was already too late. It was the end … Read More

By Molly Miller Multiple weekends each summer of my childhood were spent at my grandparents’ quaint cabin on Anderson Island, or “the island” as we found ourselves nicknaming it. The house on the lake holds multiple generations of memories both joyous and sorrowful. My family’s cabin is a living memory of what has now passed. … Read More

By Mengqi Shi * In the following text, I’ve decided to add its real name—东四十条—every time I mention that ugly translation.* That street is called 东四十条 [Pronunciation: Dōng Sì Shí Tiáo]. On Google Maps, its name is translated into something ugly and unpleasant—“Dongsishi Aly.” A name with no beauty at all. But it shouldn’t be … Read More

By Emily Valentine September 2018, I embarked on a treacherous journey – high school. Already, I felt like a bottom feeder, a child amidst young adults. So much to adjust to, and so much to be fearfully excited about. With all of my extra-curriculars and the pressure of whether to fit in or stand out, … Read More

By Dyson McCutcheon When most people think of California, the first thing that comes to mind is Los Angeles. LA is known for its nonstop chaos—whether something good or bad is happening. Walking through the city, you catch the scents of street food and bus exhaust, hear the constant honking of cars, and the buzz … Read More

By Bella Munson My younger sister and I didn’t often get along growing up. We loved each other like family was obligated to but fought more often than not. I often hated her for how happy she was, how easy life and friendship seemed to come to her. As she entered her freshman year of … Read More

By  Alicia Cheng The rhythmic hum of looms, the soft rustling of embroidery threads, and the dim yet warm glow of factory lights—these sounds and images defined my childhood. I grew up in a Chinese embroidery factory, a place that, despite its worn exterior, carried the weight of countless dreams and aspirations. Though my path … Read More