【Written by Reese San Diego】
when I was younger
my mom would tie my hair every day before school,
securing braids with bright blue, red, and yellow rubber
I’d screech in pain as hair ties snapped
and she brushed through the unruly knots in my hair
last night,
my friend braided my hair
crossing strands up, over, and under one another––
it’s funny now
to think about how much ease I feel
when people touch it
it draws out this warmth within me
something gentle and familiar
something so very gentle