I am from the scent of nature in the morning

and seeing my desk across from my bed

I am from doing homework at my desk

and feeling the fullness of it after I finish

I am from the sound of jackhammers when I get home

and the comfort of being home and not at school

This is where I’m from

I am from the feeling of success of getting a good grade

and the sound of my parents congratulating me

I am from trying new sports

and hoping that all of the COVID cases go down so we can play games

I am from the hope that I can get a well paying job

and graduating high school and college

This is where I’m from

I am from the smell of freshly cooked food every night

I am from the sound of cooking my favorite dinner with my mom

and smelling the sourness of the lemon on the salmon

I am from eating a gooey and tasty paella with my family on Christmas dinner

and eating tough, buttery, and crunchy bread

This is where I’m from

I am from the ongoing conversations with my cousins every year

and catching up with each other’s lives

I am from the agonizing sound of my parents waking me up in the morning on my birthday

and being with my family

I am from learning Spanish

and saying buen provecho before every meal

This is where I’m from

I am from being called Sarita for my whole life

and hearing Fritz call me Binie for the first time and admiring it

I am from the feeling of power every morning

and the sound of the shower running

I am from the sound of laughter at jokes that aren’t even funny

This is where I’m from

I am from the swab almost touching my brain

and the anxiety of waiting for an answer

I am from seeing everyone on screens

and then seeing them in person

I am from the hope of no one I know to get Covid

and the pain of my ears from wearing my masks

This is where I’m from