Monica Escamilla

This is a photograph of my mother at a Luau in Honolulu. She was tired but trying to enjoy herself. My parents had gone on vacation without us. We were staying with my aunt in California while they spent a few nights in paradise. Their marriage wasn’t always a happy one, especially around this time. They would constantly fight, and my mom would sometimes get out of control, throwing our best china on the floor and yelling at my dad for no good reason. I remember always taking care of my younger brother during their fights. I’d quickly take him upstairs to my room where he would play and I would listen to the shouting through the AC vent. This trip was probably an attempt to relive some sort of romance. I’m not sure if it worked, but I do remember anxiously waiting for our souvenirs when they returned.