“Parental bonds, transcends planes. It stands the test of time.” This quote is from a recent poem I wrote as a message to my parents and as a message to myself. The poem, titled “Conflicted,” depicts the mental struggles I’ve faced following the death of my parents. It mentions the abundance of grief that I...

I spend all my time, pretending I’m fine While stuck in the middle of a battle with my mind I can’t comprehend the complexity of this grief built up inside of me The loss that haunts me Loneliness, cuddled up right beside me This emptiness I try to fill with distractions Subtracting myself I contemplated...