“Do you forgive
me?” my mom asks
as she pours herself
another drink.
“Yes, but it doesn’t
erase the years of
abuse you subjected
me to.” I respond,
pouring myself another
cup of tea.
She looks away dissatisfied,
visibly hurt.
I look away happily,
feeling accomplished.
Riss (she/they) is a 24-year old writer from Newark, NJ. She is a community organizer focusing on creating safe spaces for QTBIPOC. Her work can be found on Black Feminist Collective.
Image by Alan Coon
Pine Hills Review 