My family speaks quietly. My sister, mother, and I, stay alone within ourselves. We hide in the crowd, show in the silence. We are shy sandals, shivering in the shoe rack.

My dad speaks steadily in peaceful poise. Handshake here, handshake there, handshake everywhere. He is like an over friendly dog sitting at your feet, begging to be touched. Never afraid to introduce himself to a stumbling stranger. He has no problem talking triumphantly to petrified people. And his voice, his voice, is strong and sudden. His voice waves hello to anyone he meets. The way his eyes don’t wander, longing for escape, but rather focus on the truth that lies ahead. His confidence screams bright like stars in the night sky. My dad speaks steadily in peaceful poise.