By Dorothea Rosa Herliany

this time she did not want candles and bread for her birthday because she realized for the first time that she never remembered good days and that candles would shine on her thoughts, the bread would fill her stomach, and she would forget that tomorrow would come more slowly.

today she wanted part of her mother’s portrait, so that she would always remember time’s face, and not be confused by the places she always left.

Translated by Harry Aveling