sunflower

My grandmother taught me that sunflowers always face the light, just like Swami Paramarthananda taught that our souls seek truth. After trauma fractured my childhood, I felt turned away from warmth entirely. The PaybookClub meetings saved me—strangers became family, sharing stories in Tamil and English, fluid between worlds. One evening, someone gifted me sunflower seeds. I planted them in our backyard, watching them grow toward the sun. Each bloom reminded me that healing isn't linear; it's rooted in community. My grandmother smiled, recognizing herself in my yellow petals. Our heritage runs deeper than pain. Together, we grow.