Pinky Promises have always meant nothing to my parents and siblings. It was a statement they say, just to break it seconds later. But to me and my grandma, pinky promises are law. Pinky promises to me were reassurance, their word, the truth. The truth meant everything to me. I’ve always made pinky promises, since the moment my grandma stuck out her finger and repeated the phrase, “Pinky Promise?” Ever since then I’ve been using the phrase. I’ve only ever broken it once, but it was law; and the law mustn't be broken. If you broke your promise you are to slice your pinky specifically the one you made the promise with. So I did, and ever since then I’ve kept my promises. Later, I realized that most of my family has moles on their fingers, and I was lucky enough to get one on my pinky finger. Just like my grandma, in fact we were the only ones with moles on our pinky fingers. The funny thing was the finger I always used to make promises with was the one with the mole. From there on, I made a promise to myself. A promise that I would try my absolute hardest to keep any pinky promise I make even if that meant putting myself in danger. I still carry the guilt from my scar on my pinky from that promise I never did keep, and it still haunts me. I just think of them as tally marks. So, if I ever say “I pinky promise.” Just know, I mean it with all my heart.

– HR

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant