φιλία | Rebecca

2,071 is the number

of stairs that i ran

because you told me to 

nippert owned us that day

we trusted you because

you

are

you

when a box cutter became an emergency

and hand-me-down futons

and blood donations

and the foulest shin guards

and you gave and gave and give

the void wouldn't be a void 

if it knew you

and i know you

and how lucky are we to

a little extra to you [today]

because all of the 

us

that know you

are in the philia that is you

.: Her Name's Rebecca, But Just Call Her Becky :.

♥|cmd

φιλία | Britta

 

if an awen could laugh
i just know 
it would mirror yours
and if it could speak
the plants and papers
around it 
would come to life 
and laugh along too 

if an awen were any truer
to its namesake, its own epithet
it would draw itself as the 
thoughts turned words that make it 

so wonderful 
to share space with you

it was april fools day 
but not ours 

it's always the most

unheralded introductions 

that bloom into the 

best friends 

and matching tattoos
even the ones where 

multiple liberties 

were taken and loved even more 

and coffee

and more coffee

and bookstores, cats, and 

sound advice 

if an awen could 

inspire 

any more than its design

we would have it tattooed in tandem

oh, wait. 

.: awen and again, because Britta :. 
♥|cmd

Loc | Goodbye, But Just For Now

Hey Loc,

I was out of town when our friends came together to say goodbye to you. I hope you saw and felt all of us wherever we were, sharing the highlight reels of reasons we loved you so much.

Mine would be the late night talks, about everything from family to school to silly college dating drama. You nudging me into the DPSA presidency role, then showing up for all the events & standing in the gap when I got overwhelmed. How you took over driving a van full of us back from UIUC to UC when I got so tired I couldn’t keep my eyes open. How you stepped into a kawayanero spot and crushed it. How you’d read my papers, poems, and spoken word drafts even when they made no sense to you, but you did it anyway. I remember P, B, you and me being inseparable. How chicken nuggets and mixtapes became the unofficial group care package for any of us having a bad day. The impulse 11pm road trips from Cincy to Cbus just to get boba at MoMo’s. How you drove over to sit in my living room and watch TV on a low volume while I sobbed in my room for hours over the passing of my last remaining grandparent. How you and B showed up for Trish & me after Kat’s death. You were just there. Always. I remember your laugh and how Nina and Amy looked up to their brother. And I remember you being this exact type of casual, consistent love - and more - to so many other people.

Thank you for every one of those lunch hours study sessions, reminders to bring all my books to class, to eat dinner, and to never shortchange myself.

Love you, Loc.
Save us each a hug for when we see you again. 💔

Loc Nguyen
5/19/84 - 5/19/23 🕊️