(California, 2020.) like everyone else, we had no idea that this would be the last trip before.

the destination is l.a., a lovely friend’s lovely wedding. as a detour i return to orange county, the asian hub that was my family’s introduction to this country, for the first time since we we woke up from our american dream.

the dry heat, the sprawling shopping plaza where I used to take dreaded clarinet lessons, and the behemoth fig tree at my elementary school bring me back to before, before, before

on the flight home i turn 23.