Boy Atop the Hill

This short story narrative prose poem draws inspiration from Mesoamerican mythology and the experiences of ostracized children. While I am not Indigenous myself, I wrote this piece to reflect the pain of being othered and the tragic consequences of scapegoating, something I relate to as a transgender person and I believe has repeated itself on a global level throughout human history. I drew from Mesoamerican mythology not to speak on behalf of Indigenous people, but to honor the power of storytelling that cultures like the Maya used to explain injustice, suffering, and resilience. Though I am not Indigenous, I see echoes of my own story in these mythic frameworks