Lifestyle: In Practice

Spanish lives in my hellos and goodbyes, in domino games with my tíos, in memories of piña coladas and mangú. I was the girl who stopped speaking Spanish at five, who traded merengue for iced coffee and skyscrapers, but still sneaks bachata into her cleaning playlists. Between two worlds, I write my rebellion in Spanglish. I am still Dominicana, even when I dream in English.

I wasn’t asking for a fantasy—I just wanted honesty. But when men act like boyfriends and refuse to give you the title, it’s not romance, it’s manipulation. Swift gave me the world, but not his word. This is what I learned: confusion is not chemistry, it’s a red flag waving in your face. I don’t do placeholders anymore. If it’s not clear, it’s cut.

Dear Readers, As an MFA student and New York native, my bag is my life. A Brandon Blackwood leather handbag, gifted after a hard semester, holds my Moleskine, pen, and pencil for chasing ideas. Dominicana by Angie Cruz fuels my literary escape, while Penelope keeps me company through New York’s endless tourist season. Essentials: camera for moments, lip liner for confidence, scrunchie and gel for control, and pepper spray, because safety matters. -Sofía Villafaña