Pupa

This story is inspired by my experience in high school and Kafka’s Metamorphosis. As I entered my teens, there were a lot of feelings I couldn’t understand, so I buried them and kept aloof from others. Gaining the ability to understand and express my feelings was a big step toward adulthood for me. Personal growth is not fast or predictable—and not all pupation will result in a butterfly but perhaps a cicada or moth—it's inward and unique for everyone. Pupa is a short poem of this growth.

Hui Ma is a Chinese illustrator and graphic designer with a love of details and color. She uses different media including colored pencil, watercolor, oil painting, and digital painting. Inspiration for Hui is found in many places including her memories, dreams, stories about people of color and gender minorities