“She felt breathing in her ear and knew there must be someone behind her. The whispers got louder as she got closer to the door.”

“Within this cage, the killing of her spirit was daily from being forced to speak a language that was not her own and to learn of a culture she was not born into.”

“How did he choke you? How did he break your wrist? Did you try calling anyone? When did he start getting violent? Why don’t you move?”

“The Warriors versus the Cowgirls, too fantastic to be made up, and the mascots couldn’t be more fitting.”

“It wasn’t just the coma. I couldn’t feel her spirit in the room with us. I knew she was gone, and she wasn’t coming back.”

“In languages, we encapsulate the individual and communal mental and spiritual contemplative efforts of a people—each unique.”

“Beautiful skies, red orange ascending into blue, over mirror like waters . . .”

“beneath umbrellas of drooping purple petals, sticks with triangular heads hold curved handles, thin membranes stretch for tiny legs to back—stroke . . .”

“In the beginning, she gifted us life-giving waters. Swelling from underneath, she gave birth to the water panthers and horned serpents.”