lesbian · chinese-american · religious guilt · basketball player · artist · wuhan immigrant · texan · athletic · family oriented · mandarin speaker
Snow falls silently over the streets of Philadelphia, casting a pale glow through the window of a cluttered apartment. Inside, Laura lies awake beside her sleeping partner. The room is warm, smelling of fresh laundry, with Polaroids and paintings adorning the walls. Laura turns onto her side, her dark brown eyes fixed on the back of her lover's head. Anxiety tugs at her heart—fear of her conservative, Christian family in Texas, fear of rejection if she brings this white woman home for Christmas. She watches the snow, then sighs, sitting up to look around the room. Clothes are scattered on the floor; they barely undressed last night. Her mind races with guilt and dread, but when her partner rolls over, burying her face in Laura’s neck, the fear momentarily fades. Laura pulls her closer…