The Death of Vivek Oji

by Akwaeke Emezi

Fresh starts were good; that separateness was where you could feel yourself, where you could learn who you were apart from everyone else.

So: If nobody sees you, are you still there?

Alone is a feeling you can get used to, and it’s hard to believe in a better alternative.

Some people can’t see softness without wanting to hurt it.

Maybe we were all pretending to be fine because the world gave us no other option.

Panic was a vulture inside my body, trying to get out, pecking and flapping wildly at me.