Morning Movement

The taxi is a white submarine on wheels travelling through the suburbs of Cape Town. In our seats, we sway to the silent orchestra of…

We do not consent

Body bruised, broken and bleeding, I’m being tossed around the back of a police van. They’re purposefully driving in secluded roads, buckling the van side…

Highly Strung

“Bahiyah.” My name is a pleading question. “Open the door kanala?” He sounds like he’s right there. On the other side of the unadorned white…

David, the enemy

The bright blue sky fades in shades of darkness as the night settles over the city. On the rooftop, the big expansive space envelopes me…

Couch

The hush falls over the house as the garage gate closes behind Altaaf and the car bromms away, down the street for the school drop…

Brokenshards of Perfect

Under my black scarf, the hair on the back of my neck prickles. I look up into the distant eyes of a girl whose face…

Domestic Disturbance

What’s that noise? It stirs me from my slumber. Here, noises are warnings in need of investigation. Often, it’s Miss Curious, my ginger cat, knocking…

Red Shoes

 In the kitchen, we’re eating the left-over pumpkin food my mommy made last night. I hate it. But she won’t make new food if there’s…

My Habibi

How did I fall so deeply in love with someone in such a short amount of time? I’ve known him for a whole year, but…

Shadows in Macassar

This is not how my parents envisioned me attending macassar University for the Gifted. Not since my fifth birthday when I grew a moorbei seed…

Agitated Body

My nipple is being used to deplete my breast of milk by three month old Amierah who is currently fisting a piece of the skin…