How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water

by Angie Cruz

But now I see that this country is like that fisherman with fast hands on the beach who shows you the big fat fish, but when he cooks, he says it shrink.

You never heard that word? You said you’re dominicana. You don’t understand Spanish? Oh, just a little. OK. Desahogar: to undrown, to cry until you don’t need to cry no more.

When Ángela saw me cry, my sister said, You’re drowning in a glass of water. I tell you, Ángela is cold. But cold! Pfft! She has no feelings for me. Not Lulú. She understood that I had to cry until I undrowned from the inside.

Freedom is being able to live your truth without having to apologize for it.