Almost Surely Dead

by Amina Akhtar

Death shouldn’t unnerve me this much; I was used to people dying around me.

like I hadn’t escaped, I’d only postponed things.

Because once your family thinks you’re the source of all things wrong, you can never convince them otherwise.

I can’t say I missed my mom. Not exactly. I loved her, of course. But I couldn’t tell you if she felt the same.

How do you grieve someone who hated you? I wasn’t sure how to, but I was trying.

Pharmacists were the unloved drug dealers of the world. Maybe if I sold weed, I’d have happier customers.

I am a survivor. I will fuck you up.

Even dead, my mother ruled over my life.

Pretend you’re normal.

he forgave his parents for being human.