This project started when a very cool person (who I am certain is a witch) told me about their friend’s family’s story of immigration. They had to flee their home country and did not have too much time at all to pack up. When they got to their destination, the grandmother opened her suitcase to reveal pillows. As she had been putting things together to permanently leave her home, the thought running through her mind was a practical one — where were they going to sleep tonight?

So I asked other immigrants I knew about their own or their family’s story. And I started with “What did you take with you when you left?” This question was the north star as I illustrated people’s experiences. In connection to this, I also took the narratives and histories people shared with me to create a zine.