Pastels and twinkling sunlight. With other Black girls who understand. Experiencing violence as a child creates a cacophony of anger, confusion, sadness, and premature existentialism. Life is an illusion for a really long time. Looking for art, books, conversation, anything to bring clarity was never really fruitful. Too much was about dying inside and not enough was about wanting to live really badly. The yearning and manifesting part that keeps you sane. Sometimes I needed that acknowledgement of my pain, other times I wanted to go away. To this place. This is for other Black girls who need a place to go, too. Thank you to that part of myself that always believed that better was possible. Thank you for bringing me to right now.