My Safehouse

For as long as I can remember, my Aunt Meenu has been my safehouse in a storm. Whenever I swim in the deep end and lose my footing, Aunt Meenu tosses a life preserver of kindness around my neck to pull me ashore, telling me I am doing amazing things and will do even more in the future. She tells me to never let the arrows of anyone’s black words mar my self-esteem when those I love tell me I have non-existent abilities. Aunt Meenu is always kind and giving, and her hugs are those of a giant, warm teddy bear springing me to life. I think every kid needs an Aunt Meenu, which is why for her 50th birthday, I charcoaled this portrait of her as a gift to illuminate that you do not need to be famous to be a hero. As they say, “To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you can be the world.”