i find comfort in the darkness of others
it becomes the spices i bite into when eating my mothers food
a sense of comfort that comes from deep inside
so when the lights go out on the bus
the red light sears into the back of my neck
i do everything in my power to hang on the leather seats
whistle a softer tune

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Veeda Khan is a high schooler in New Jersey. She has work forthcoming in DREGINALD and Common Ground Review.

Photography by Fabrice Poussin.