Where I’m from

I am from the greca-where my family makes their coffee,

from cafe Bustelo and everyone’s very own specific coffee cups.

I am from a small, homey, Bronx apartment, from the green wall and black leather couches to the big brown table that would always smell like lemon.

I am from the agaves growing on the washer in the kitchen,

the plants my grandma loved more than anyone, that grew to the top of our ceiling and covered the kitchen window.

I am from opening Christmas presents at midnight on the 24th.

And a family that all had crooked fingers,

from Doña 

and Titi Ana and Mimi.

I am from a loud 

and loving, caring family.

From the saying “Sana, sana, colita de rana, si no se sanas hoy, se sanaras manana” every time my cousin and I got hurt, 

and from everyone telling us to enjoy our childhood years, how we will regret saying we wanted to be adults.

I am from the love of sneakers.

I am from The Bronx and the Dominican Republic, 

From Rice with chicken and beans and Mangu with salami.

From the commitment of a grandmother who stepped up to take care of her granddaughter,

the caring uncle who listened,

and the aunt who cared for me as one of her own.

I am from the frames held up in my grandmother’s hallway, the family photos in her album at the bottom of her closet, from my mom’s mac computer that held all of our favorite videos of one another, that cherished so many beautiful memories of ours.