Those last few lines broke me! The longing in this piece, the questions you ask, the earnestness in your words... I feel it so strongly. I love the visuals - the impact of the coconut tree, the berries and gardenias, the nostalgia of remembering where you were born and having that in common... yet having to process the notion of them leaving. The acknowledgement of the pain in your hometown, of it ruining you, and not wanting to be left behind almost. You really have a way with expressing such depth in your emotions. Especially in the line about not fighting like their parents did, and that being what makes them stay.

Always enjoy reading what you post on here!