For our first semester in college, we were asked to tell a story - a story that progresses, interests and leaves you angry, hopeful or contemplating. A story that is incomplete without even a single photograph of this project.
This story is a monologue. It’s a letter to a new lover, it’s the contradiction of my life. It’s incomplete and it’s bursting at the seams, it is everything you see and everything you don’t. Don’t lose a part of it, you might lose a part of me. Take from it whatever you want to but please, be gentle with it.
This story is a monologue. It’s a letter to a new lover, it’s the contradiction of my life. It’s incomplete and it’s bursting at the seams, it is everything you see and everything you don’t. Don’t lose a part of it, you might lose a part of me. Take from it whatever you want to but please, be gentle with it.
“When you wake up this morning, please read my diary.
Look through my things and figure me out.”
Look through my things and figure me out.”
– Kurt Cobain
Go ahead, open my diary.
I want you to know who I am, I want you to figure me out.
I want you to know who I am, I want you to figure me out.
Did you read it yet?
Did it tell you who I was?
Did it tell you who I was?
What if I gave you my favorite page of a children’s book, instead?
What if I told you it taught me what beauty is?
What if I told you it taught me what beauty is?
I think I should show you my favorite book.
It’s a love story.
It’s a love story.
Maybe I should show you all the books I have ever read.
I think you’ll find me in all the mementos of my life.
Have you looked there, yet?
Have you looked there, yet?
My friends could tell you who I am – they’ve been there for a lot of it.
Or maybe my family could tell you.
They’re the most treasured thing I have.
They’re the most treasured thing I have.
I don’t think my parents could tell you.
You could look at my favorite part of my room.
Maybe there, you will get a hint or two.
Maybe there, you will get a hint or two.
Can my favorite t-shirt tell you anything about me?
What does it say?
What does it say?
What about my favorite tattoo? It tells me to fight another day.
What does it tell you?
What does it tell you?
The scar on my knees should tell you something, I got it when I learnt how to ride a bike.
It’s my favorite scar.
It’s my favorite scar.
My eyes could tell you so much.
Do you dare look into them?
Do you dare look into them?
Here’s a box full of receipts from days I miss – this will help.
You’ll always find music around me, I want you to know.
It’s what inspires me.
It’s what inspires me.
All the places I’ve been to, they reside inside of me.
Does that paint a picture for you?
Does that paint a picture for you?
I drew the woman I loved on my wall, but she doesn’t talk to me anymore.
Does she talk to you?
Does she talk to you?
I told you this story through my first camera. I got it when I was 12.
Does it still do the job?
Does it still do the job?
Did you get any closer? Did you figure me out?
I hope you didn’t – I feel overexposed.
I hope you didn’t – I feel overexposed.
By Gitanjali Tyagi.
