Innocence

She had turned thirteen over the summer. Over the course of that sun-filled, open air summer spent in the countryside, forms that were only just outlines had become more precise. Leaving home as a little girl, she had come back as…something else. Seeing herself in the mirror, she had failed to recognize the plump teenage girl, staring back at her. Her body was a place where she no longer felt home. A new planet with its mounts and valleys. And its secret spots. This new body of hers had whims of its own, was troubled by desire that left her trembling. At the thought, she tended to feel a shiver of some sorts down there. The word always felt foreign to her, when she rolled it on her tongue. Vagina. Koko. Bouboun. Chouchoun¹. So many names to refer to it in her language. All of them seeming somehow…dangerous. Always made her think of the favorite saying of one of her teachers, an alteration of a quote from Camus, “Not to name things is to add to the misfortune of the world”.

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Author

Written by

Magdalee Brunache

Magdalee Brunache, a passionate feminist and advocate for women’s rights, is currently pursuing a PhD in political science at the University of Toronto. With a strong drive to understand societal issues through interdisciplinary approaches, Magdalee is deeply invested in exploring processes of change at various levels—global, regional, national, and local. Her primary goal is to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of equality and inclusive models for achieving societal well-being through her research and advocacy. In addition to her academic pursuits, Magdalee has channeled her passion for feminist causes into action. She is the founder of RÈG, an organization dedicated to ensuring accessible and safe period products for women and girls in Haiti. Magdalee is also a dedicated writer who has published short stories and runs a bilingual blog where she shares her creative writings and reflections. Her writing often centers on issues close to her heart, providing a platform for her to express her thoughts on societal challenges and the importance of feminist perspectives. Many of her poems delve into the elusive concept of “home” and the raw vulnerability experienced by people caught between cultures, continents and conflicting emotions.