The Other Side of Mother

One day, Xiaoci notices her mother’s pupils glowing an unnatural yellow, making her seem almost alien. Frightened, she slips into a surreal space that feels like a dream, a womb, and a living body. Surrounded by blood and breath, Xiaoci is drawn into her fear, grief, and longing. As her mother approaches death, Xiaoci begins to understand that separation is never complete. Her mother is gone, but not entirely—she remains in Xiaoci’s body, memory, and the world around her.