Double Life

An online obituary set off a chain of memories about two families, a Taiwanese revolutionary, and the dramatic events that separated us and caused us to leave Taiwan.

“My mom met the famous dissident only once. One day Judith offered her a ride down the mountain to go to the market. When she got into the car, she was startled to see Peng sitting in the backseat. Judith introduced the two of them, but after saying “hello” my mom was speechless for the rest of the 15-minute ride. She was star-struck, but also afraid: although Peng was a hero among Taiwanese people, his presence was toxic. As a known enemy of the government, being associated with him was extremely risky. Everyone knew what the KMT was capable of during Chiang’s dictatorship.”

• Read the full essay in Jellyfish Review. Double Life appeared in the Seventeen Syllables Folio, a collection of 8 flash fiction and nonfiction stories by Asian Pacific American writers that I curated for Jellyfish Review.