The Aunt Who Wouldn't Die

by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay

“You mustn’t fear a man’s temper. It’s all sound and fury. Pay no attention.”

I walked into the distance, holding hands with loneliness, my best friend.

I don’t give in to emotions. I have fears, I feel anxiety, I make the effort to move the pieces of real life around in a way that helps me survive.