UBER TO EMERGENCY: MY SISTER IS MISSING
- May 15
- 1 min read
By J. Marahuyo
how ironic I’ve cut
thumb on “borrowed” blade, lifted
from your desk the day you fled.
the silver crescent scar
on the base of your thumb is all I recall
tatay insisting, hindi. okay lang. hindi kailangan
nang stitches.* You did. I do.
like you, I asked another, betrayed
my instinct. Sister: self-
stolen. plane voyage. turbulence
fastened inadequacies. us, women, secretly
cheered on your jilting between
the ugly fucking cries, cycles of
there were signs & reading
your note, I hope
I find what I'm looking for
bitch. you fucking better. oh
my bad, I sorta let slip
after all those panic-filled, sleepless
nights. I know the skin on my thumb
won't ever look the same. twin
moons. I look up, what happens
when a planet with two moons loses
one? changes to tides, climate and potential
mass extinction events. five weeks, then.
boom.
you rock up at our grandparents in the Philippines.
safe.
I don't believe in family. I used to believe
in you. tatay relayed, uuwi siya.*
soon -ish. three months and you haven't
called. don't bother
with a pasalubong.* you've given
enough.