I am an anthology of all the Dominican women they warned you about, get on your knees and thank them.

I asked mami who she would be had she the money, time, and education. had she not had me.

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a therapist, she says, I am always helping people.

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and it's hard imagining mami as a therapist. taking notes in a classroom. hopping on the train towards prebysterian hospital, or her own office, instead of upstate for cleaning jobs, dyckman or the heights to bartend and waitress, or local salons to sell knock-off purses. it's hard imagining mami talking fluent english, owning a house, with a husband, and without me.