At the center of my lifeAre teachings passedOnward, from word andAction, sacred gemsI foster and treasure. At the center of my lifeIs freedom eternallyBound, my desireUnquenched to beLike my parents. My mother, strong-willedBeautiful in song andMind, never giving upOn me, pure andInnocent in the world. My father, a lion among sheep,Never bowing to anyone,Teaching me ...

When I woke up, my body felt like it was soaked in a bucket of sweat. I peeled back the blankets that stuck to me like a second skin. My clothes felt like they were made of lead. I dragged myself to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face to wake me up, ...