When I Return, Will My Home Know Me?

July 25, 2025

When I return again,
I will forget which corner
I buried my memories…
which crack in the wall held my laughter,
which soap smelled like my mother.

I will knock before entering my own past.

Because exile isn’t always forced.
Sometimes, it’s chosen.

But the ache?
The ache is always inherited

Shameela Yoosuf Ali

Shameela, the Editor-In-Chief of FemAsia, is an artivist and PhD researcher in Media and Cultural Studies.. Now residing in England, she carries a deep nostalgia for her homeland, Sri Lanka, which echoes through her writing and Art. Through her research and creative work, she explores the intersections of art, identity, and activism, shedding light on underrepresented voices.

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