by Judith Taburet
My aunt died in France.
Death broke the schedule.
Suddenly, I don’t have time disappeared, wiped clean like chalk from a board.
My mother crossed the sea from Madagascar. I hadn’t seen her for years—years measured not in days, but in distance in silence, in voice notes saved and never deleted.
How could my face show happiness and sadness at the same time?
Sadness.
Joy.
Sun.
Cloud.
Shadow.
Weight—not lightness.
The sun argued with the clouds. Light spilled anyway. Shadow stayed. Weight existed without gravity. I felt heavy and floating, carried by something larger than myself—solitude wrapped inside enormous solidarity.
Family gathered the way weather does: sudden, inevitable. Hugs came from everywhere—lightning, wind, pressure. Death had done what only love could resist: it forced us into the same room, the same moment, the same breath.
Time was confused in the heart’s country.
Hours bent. Minutes refused to give their names.
Tic. Tac.
Happiness began blowing pink balloons, timidly, as if asking permission. Christmas lurked in the corner, unsure whether to enter. Sadness put on a swimsuit and crossed the sea of tears slowly, refusing to rush. Doubt dressed with care—black shirt, red pants—ready for whatever would happen next.
Hail fell outside.
Sharp.
Brief.
Honest.
When my mother finally stood in front of me, she said, "Sweetheart, how are you?" Her voice was soft. Grief stepped aside. Not gone—just quieter. My face learned something new then: how to breathe with a broken schedule, how to hold joy inside great sadness, how to welcome love even when it arrives carrying death.
Tic.
Toc.
Love.
Judy T is a writer and photographer hailing from Madagascar, now based in France. Drawing from a rich legacy of advocacy, she infuses her art with a sense of purpose. Inspired by her father, an influential writer who courgeously fought against prejudice and racism in their homeland . Judy T channels her creative voice to shed light on women's stories and Malagasy culture. Her work, both in prose and photography, delves into strong experiences, ensuring they are told with unflinching honesty and strength.