My best friend I were at a concert and we happened to see an old friend of ours that we unfortunately grew apart from because high school can be tough that way. But at the concert, the three of us stuck together during the performance, and when the singer said to hold the hand of someone we love and raise those hands in the air, we all three grabbed each other’s hands and raised them! It was an extremely satisfying feeling, knowing that even though we hadn’t seen our friend in a while, there was still this lasting bond between the three of us.
My mom ties a red string on my wrist called a kabbalah. It’s meant to keep me safe and out of harm’s way. You have to have a loved one tie the bracelet for you in order for it to work. It must also be knotted seven times. My mom, my aunt, my grandma, and I all wear it. Every time I feel homesick or lost, the bracelet reminds me that my family is still close to my heart.
Cicadas always remind me of my grandfathers. The first grandfather’s name was Tom. Whenever we walked outside, he’d stare at the sky; he would stand so still and just listen. He’d hold my hand and tell me to focus on the cicadas’ music. We were both in a trance that no one could stir us from. The second grandfather’s name was Joseph. He died when I was four. There is a tree next to his grave covered in sap. The tree’s sap dripping down its trunk would be covered in cicada shells. As a kid, I would collect those shells when we visited the grave.