Written by Melanie Hyo-In Han

“…the tiny but ever-present label (I never liked labels anyway)…”
to me - the first thing I do after taking a deep breath and blowing out the candle on my cake is unwrap (tear, actually, I’m quite eager) the crinkly magenta, lavender, royal blue layers of tissue paper and pull out this gift I got for myself, carefully fingering at and snipping off the tiny but ever-present label (I never liked labels anyway) then bury my face in the sweater, inhaling musk, this (un)familiar scent, new excitement coming in waves, a burst and release of sweet satisfaction in, oh, how good it feels to say good-bi to this closet I never liked
Like what you see? Check out more of Melanie’s work in the Vol. 2 print edition!