Lina queued up an episode of a forgotten 90s show about roommates in a purple apartment. No car chases. No billion-dollar explosions. Just a misunderstanding about a library book and a melted ice cream cake. She laughed—a real, out-loud laugh.

May 13, 2024 Segment: WakeUpN – Ohana Petite – WUNF 400

She heard it: Mochi’s rusty-engine purr. Then, the gurgle of her old coffee maker. Then, the distant thrum of the garbage truck two streets over. Her world. Manageable. Real.

Lina smiled, rubbing her eyes. Ohana meant family, but petite meant small. Small family. That was her now: her, a chipped ceramic mug, and a calico cat named Mochi who was currently using her laptop as a pillow.