Open Water

Set in the present day, the narrative mirrors current conversations about race, identity, and belonging. The characters confront everyday racism and policing as part of their lived reality. The timeline traces a relationship through closeness, rupture, and eventual healing.

The action centers in urban spaces—primarily a bar where the connection between the narrator and the dancer begins, and the surrounding city life that frames their experiences. Private school memories surface as a backdrop, highlighting class and race tensions that haunt the relationship. The urban setting serves as a pressure cooker for emotions, power, and the possibility of belonging.

🕊️ Healing

Healing emerges through vulnerability, open conversation, and mutual support. The lovers become a sanctuary where fear and trauma can be named and processed. The narrative shows how trust slowly rebuilds emotional weather, allowing pain to be acknowledged and released.

🧭 Racism

The story foregrounds the persistent impact of racism and the danger it creates in everyday life. Encounters with police, stereotypes, and biased judgments illuminate how Black bodies are read before they are heard. The characters negotiate safety, dignity, and identity within a system that often devalues them.

🎨 Art as Shelter

Art—photography and dance—acts as a haven where emotion can be expressed without judgment. The narrator uses documentary work to connect with others, while the dancer offers a space to be seen and heard. Creative collaboration deepens trust and provides a way to process trauma.

💬 Communication

Communication becomes the turning point of the relationship, turning silence into confession and fear into empathy. Misunderstandings and barriers are confronted through honest dialogue. When both partners learn to articulate fears and desires, the relationship moves toward vulnerability and resilience.