When the World Tips Over

by Jandy Nelson

There’s an invisible artery joining the hearts of mothers and daughters through which pain is transferred from one generation to the next.

She didn’t know what people were supposed to do with the leftover love that no one wanted anymore.

If people bear the trauma of their ancestors, doesn’t it follow they also bear their rhapsodies? If there is generational pain passed down, mustn’t there also be generational joy? If there are family curses that drop through time, mustn’t there also be family blessings that do the same?

He was such a rough draft, had no idea what parts of himself would make it, what crap parts would be cut.

I do believe now that when the world tips over, joy spills out with all the sorrow.