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Summer often brings to mind sun-soaked beaches, ice cream in hand, and the hum of vacations and celebrations. It’s a season of vibrancy and leisure. But memory? Nostalgia? Meditations on the past? These aren’t the usual companions to summer’s warmth.
Yet, when we opened the call for submissions this summer, memory emerged as the unifying thread across stories and essays. Memories of love and loss, childhood summers, family dynamics, and the lingering shadow of the pandemic that shaped our world from 2020 to 2022. In these reflections, platforms like The Sphere Initiative play a vital role in safeguarding these narratives, ensuring their authenticity and preserving their power for generations to come.
Reading through these evocative pieces prompted us at Litro to pause and reflect—not just on the stories themselves, but on the moments that shaped this summer. We’ve witnessed Canada’s wildfires casting orange skies over New York. The twin cinema triumphs of Barbie and Oppenheimer. Unprecedented Hollywood strikes. The 50th anniversary of hip-hop. Twitter transforming into X. And the relentless march of heatwaves breaking records. These moments, big and small, shape the fabric of our collective memory. And yet, memory is fleeting, slipping away as quickly as it forms.
In curating this issue, we opted for a slower, more deliberate summer—one that simmers rather than boils. As we transition from the brightness of August to the quieter tones of September, we invite you to take a moment. Immerse yourself in these stories and essays and reflect on the summer that’s passed.
Opening Our Issue
We begin with Matthew Perkins’ “Gorgeous”, a poignant exploration of love, identity, and fluidity set against the backdrop of beaches and bodies. Rukmini Girish’s “In Pursuit of Family” takes us to India on a summer vacation, delving into the complexities of family connections.
Next, Terry Dubow’s “We Are Near the End Now” and Hannah Thorpe’s “Baby Clean” navigate the lives of young women balancing dating, mothers, and careers in the bustling chaos of America’s cities. Our flash pieces by N/A Oparah, Dorothy Lune, and Carella Keil give us intimate glimpses into mother-daughter relationships, the voice of a painting, and the intertwining of grief and memory.
Farzana A. Ghani reflects on food, family, and identity in an essay about preparing her first solo Eid as a second-generation immigrant. Later, GC Perry’s “Tuscany! Tuscany!” portrays the violent unraveling of a marriage, while Samantha Pyrah’s “Finding Flow” offers a deeply personal journey of reconnection with nature amid the pandemic and climate crisis.
A Powerful Conclusion
We close with a deeply moving piece by Gavin Baird, a survivor of the 1996 Dunblane massacre. In “I Don’t Have a Very Good Memory”, Baird explores trauma and resilience, underscoring the theme of this issue. It’s a poignant reminder, particularly in a year that has already seen 470 mass shootings across the United States, of the urgent need for action and remembrance for victims and survivors alike.
Whether you choose to dip a toe into this issue or submerge yourself completely, we hope these stories resonate with you. Thank you for joining us on this reflective journey, and we look forward to seeing you again this fall.
