I don’t know where to put my anger

by Sofia Fasullo

Z brought her newspaper clippings to school so I remember my 6th grade mouth being all dry, stuffed with slow words. I’m sorry. so we just sat in silence. most days went fast when Z taught me how she smacked her tongue and danced to get boys mad, definitely the reason I could flirt with Elijah and Daniel. “asking all the questions” we’d sing “ASSUME!” I always felt two steps behind her confidence

I sat on the hallway floor, homeroom waiting she plopped her backpack down and I shrieked “girl, Sophie likes Amir!!” no gossip today, she spread the pages out. October 18th, 2001, my father got shot at the park she said. Ten years ago, today.

I tried to write about this for my college application essay

I don’t get it, my counselor said.

Albany’s got a couple parks I’ve never been to I don’t know which park Z’s father was killed at, but I think it’s one of those.

I heard she has a baby now.

I haven’t talked to Z since 6th grade. I stopped smacking my tongue because it feels fake, but sometimes I still dance like she did to show I’m different.

About the Author: Sofia Fasullo

Sofia (she/her) is a first year Master in Urban Spatial Analytics and City Planning with a concentration in Housing, Community, and Economic Development. She is from Albany, NY.