Iveliz Explains It All

Note: These pages contain the poems “Google Meet,” “Real Feelings Journal—Tuesday,” “Mimi Is in Her Garden,” “Being Suspended Is the Worst,” “Feelings Notepad—Wednesday,” and “Dad Ruins It (aka Real Feelings Journal—Wednesday).”

Iveliz calls Amir, and he claims she hasn’t been “very nice.” When she wants something, she calls him, but other times, she ignores him. He tries to talk to her about his life, but she doesn’t listen or remember what he says. Amir’s criticisms make Iveliz feel like she’s underwater. She can’t hear him, so he ends the conversation. Iveliz feels like a “burden” and like her mind is “messed up.” She thinks about the words “solo” and “alone,” and concludes that she’s always alone.

While gardening, Mimi says she wants her home back. She feels “trapped” in the apartment, similar to how Iveliz feels stuck in her head. Later, Mimi shows Iveliz how to make arepas. They save some for Mami, who’s at work, so she can’t enjoy “fresh” arepas. Mimi calls Iveliz Tania, but it doesn’t trigger Iveliz this time.

In the feelings notepad, Iveliz claims she’s happy because of the arepas. In her journal, she records her real feelings. Dad visits and eats an arepa.