In this ferocious and tender debut, Chen Chen investigates inherited forms of love and family—the strained relationship between a mother and son, the cost of necessary goodbyes—all from Asian American, immigrant, and queer perspectives. Holding all accountable, this collection fully embraces the loss, grief, and abundant joy that come with charting one’s own path in identity, life, and love.<br /><br /><b>In the Hospital</b><br /><br />My mother was in the hospital & everyone wanted to be my friend.<br />But I was busy making a list: good dog, bad citizen, short<br />skeleton, tall mocha. Typical Tuesday.<br />My mother was in the hospital & no one wanted to be her friend.<br />Everyone wanted to be soft cooing sympathies. Very reasonable<br />pigeons. No one had the time & our solution to it<br />was to buy shinier watches. We were enamored with<br />what our wrists could declare. My mother was in the hospital<br />& I didn’t want to be her friend. Typical son. Tall latte, short tale,