Be the Voice that Echoes
by Natasha Maya
Note: This is a spoiler-free review.
You: a series that makes me feel somewhat like a creep. Although I – a perfectly normal, sane person (I swear) – is against the idea of stalking and murdering, I can’t help but love the premise of this series.
The last episode of Season 1 left us all at a cliffhanger; confused, shook and hungry for more. So when Season 2 finally aired, I was beyond psyched. And let me tell you, Season 2 did not disappoint.
“Your resistance to my existence is futile.”
In 384 pages, S. K. Ali brought together the yearning of my oh-so representation-hungry heart; a love story of two expat kids coincidentally meeting at the airport. The cover should tell you that much, but what it does hide under the cover is a beautifully crafted narrative written through the diary entries of Adam and Zayneb (‘A to Z’) as they record the marvels and oddities that dot their chaotically, vibrant lives as migrants, siblings and activists. Adam; recording more marvels, Zayneb; recording more oddities, what happens when the two meet…? A love story of three parts: 1. Adam, 2. Zayneb and 3. Adam & Zayneb together.
When people ask what love means to me, this is what comes to my mind:
Love is, waking up from a nightmare with your significant other beside you and all it takes is the steady sound of their breathing to calm you down. It’s the comforting feeling of going back home after a long and stressful day at work because you know that there’s someone waiting for your return. It’s staying up till the sun rises with your partner and making sure they get through their assignments. Love is choosing to stay, even when the road gets rough.
With the advancement of technology, humans have found many ways to take advantage of this: from the harvesting of solar energy, to the creation of robots that take your order and serve you food. But we’re not talking about that. Today, we’re talking about the creation of online dating apps such as Tinder, Grindr, Bumble and so on.
For those unacquainted with the term, a “love language” is an expression of affection. The idea was founded by marriage counsellor Gary Chapman, who wrote a book – The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts. In his book, Chapman categorized the ways people express and accept love and affection into 5 different categories: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time, and Physical Touch.
Source
You might be thinking something along the lines of I’m just in college! I don’t even have a boyfriend/girlfriend! How would this even be useful for me?
Looks like we made it
Look how far we’ve come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we’d get there someday
“I think that’s the last of it,” Aaron commented, placing the box on the dining table.
“Make sure to lock the door,” Holly said while she arranged the cutleries neatly in their respective drawers.
Prompt: If you could send a message to a particular person whom you love/loved, what would you say?
He was humble and kind. He cooked for me. He played with me. He raised me.
I love you and I still do. In fact, I really miss you. A lot; more than you can imagine.
If only you can see me now. I hope you’re proud of how far I’ve gotten. Please continue to watch over me.
For 11 years, you’ve held a special place in my heart — you still do to this day — which nobody else can replace.
– Joey Yap