Trocadero She likes thinking that she met him at the Eiffel Tower. It had been, after all, just a few meters away across the street, so...

Longing It was during those nights when she couldn’t sleep that Marina usually felt the old familiar longing she’d come to know as a...

Tourist Uncle Tinio always made it seem like a game, and Rizal Park always seemed like the right place for it. And they were always at...

Marina There was a certain comfort about waking up to the quiet sight of curtains, sheer and still against the morning sun. Marina always...

Brother It had felt natural, moving to Hue City. Quang Tri was where his parents were, and there was where they would probably be until...

Immigration She had been in line for more than forty minutes, willing the queue that snaked in two twisty lines to go faster. She had...

Hai There was something about routines, no matter how peculiar, that comforted him. It had not occurred to Hai, until Marina pointed it...

Out of Town “I’m tired of this.” Uncle Anton flicked a careless gaze at the man lying still and unmoving on the floor, as if it was just...

Strong They took turns choosing their next victim. And in Manila Bay, it was easy: the sunset was spectacular and the coconut trees...

Twelve Round Fruits We wore polka-dot dresses, my mother and I, every New Year’s eve. She wore one religiously and without fail at the...