Siren Queen

by Nghi Vo

The way the beautiful Black woman spoke, however, I started to wonder. If I couldn’t be ordinary, maybe I could be something better instead.

It made sense, or at least I didn’t want her to think that I didn’t understand.

I could see the worship in his eyes, a kind of helpless love that didn’t even want to help itself.

I already knew that being brave didn’t mean anything unless you were willing to do it again.