FISTFUL OF DEBRIS

Abstract

Fistful of Debris is a collection of fiction aimed to explore the varied dimensions of familial loss. Each piece focuses on the personal growth and intimate details of a female protagonist's life, as she attempts to rebuild and heal. In a society that sensationalizes tragedy, this collection aims to humanize loss by focusing on the aftermath and not the event itself. All stories provide an opportunity to view a life in the reconstruction phase, whether that be of a young adult slowly saying goodbye to her grandfather, a lesbian couple dealing with the loss of their baby, or a child's introspective look at death after her father passes away. This collection establishes that tragedy does not discriminate; it is an equal-opportunity affliction. What defines a person is not overcoming the initial grief, but having the fortitude to sift through the wreckage of their life, and steadfastly rebuild with what is left. Only then can they begin to heal.