she made coffee
just how i liked it.
smiled when i sat.
nodded when i spoke.
her silence never replied.
her eyes never left.
i said goodbye.
she stayed.
still stays.
frozen in a photo
on the wall,
holding a cup
i do not remember
teaching my daughter to make.

Asmi Mahajan is a student from India who finds reading and writing to be deeply cathartic. Beyond the written word, she enjoys café hopping, experimenting with new styles of matcha and bubble tea, and practicing calligraphy and brush pen lettering. Whether it’s through ink or experience, she’s always looking for new ways to express herself.