A Journey For Happiness

Hi. My name is Melissa--in school, outside of school, and on social media. Technically, it's only an alias--the name printed on my birth certificate is Chau which means "pearl" in Vietnamese. It's not French, nor is it pronounced like Ciao (when my peers say, "Ciao, Chau" and the two RHYME, oh boy). And it's definitely not Ling-ling or Ching-Chong;  it's so  irritating when someone says, "Yo, what's up, Ching-Chong?" I'm obviously going to take offense, even if it was only meant as a joke. My name has always been a touchy subject for me; among Jacks and Emilys, Chau sticks out a lot. When teachers do attendance for the first time, I always sigh a little when they hesitate on my name. Over the years, I've gotten used to it and have been able to anticipate their hesitation, saying "here" in time to save them and  me the embarrassment. A teacher once called for a "Mr. Nong"--needless to say, it took

happy mother's day to all the moms out there ___ you - shaking worlds you move me. like six years old: when my best friends and I raced each other down the empty roads, played hide and seek in the dark, and rode our bikes til our legs gave out and then some more, youth - the pinnacle of it, my favorite memories were then. you move me like a burning fire in a kingdom of rock and ice you, my candle in the night - a soft, protecting warmth you move me your confidence, strength, understanding, your faith you inspire me you stirred into life my desires and aspirations and guided me away from the path of least resistance and threw me to myself and told me to stay me because you knew all i wanted to do was to be unlike me and be like you fearless and unwavering, can i be like that, too - maybe? you move me like nine years old when i met my grandmother for the very first time and felt the age in her hands and saw the stars in her hair