Mama was the rhythm of our home and our primary shield. A valedictorian at nineteen, she was a brilliant mind navigating a difficult life. In a house of mud and straw, she built an invisible fortress for her three daughters. She was the one who threw open windows in winter so the air would circulate, placing roses on the table as a defense against chaos.
She stood in the doorway between us and the storm of our father’s drinking, absorbing the fear so we wouldn’t have to. When she moved us to America, it was a strategic rescue mission. She traded her status for the struggle of an immigrant to ensure our potential had no ceiling. Everything strong in us comes from her. Survival isn’t an accident; it’s a decision she made for us every day.
– Nicki Kracun