When my mother migrated to the United States, she didn't have much to take with her. She had to sell almost all of her furniture and sentimental belongings just to afford the plane tickets. My father had come earlier, so she was traveling alone with my sister and brother, who were only five and three at the time. Her journey was not easy. She almost got lost in Madrid during the layover, trying to navigate a new country without a word of English while looking after two little kids. She'd tell me how nervous she was and how much her heart was racing, wondering if she had made a mistake. But she kept going, knowing that the move was for a better future. By the time she arrived, she was scared, exhausted, and relieved. She had given up so much, yet she carried with her the determination to start fresh. The tiny box of matches symbolizes loss as well as the determination to make something out of it. 

– MA

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant