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We all tried to fill the spaces between silence after Naina left for the United States. She stood by me for Mumma’s first death anniversary rituals, and she stayed until I had a lot more clarity about Jay.
Jay had missed checking-in on me on Mumma’s first death anniversary, despite my conversation with others on the therapy board about how hard the day was for me. Naina was right; Jay was self-involved and cared for no one. He never wanted to know anything about my life or work. He chose when he would walk away from conversations. It was almost comical how randomly he was offended. I was angry at Mumma for letting me grow up so shielded that I literally had no defenses against the world except a rigid, laughable modesty.
In the summer of 2014, we ran an artwork competition for th
