They Told Me My Mother Died in Childbirth Then I Met Her Selling Vegetables Downtown
I grew up believing my mother died the day I was born. That story was repeated so often it became a permanent part of my identity. Whenever I asked questions, relatives would lower their voices and say she was “too weak to survive childbirth.” I was raised by my aunt, who constantly reminded me that I should be grateful to be alive.
I mourned a woman I had never met and learned early how to live with unanswered questions.
My childhood was marked by distance and secrecy. Family gatherings felt tense, and I always sensed that certain topics were forbidden around me.…CONTINUE READING
