I Am a Mosaic of All the People I Have Ever Loved

I cut my sandwiches in a crooked line – not in the middle and not diagonal, because I saw my dad do it once and thought it was quirky.

Most of the movies that I consider to be in my top ten – the cinematic masterpieces that I always return to, I have my parents to thank for, since they discovered them long before I did and eventually introduced them to me.

I still wear the rings that my parents and sister picked out for me, not because they all match each other perfectly, but because it's the thought that counts – and I like them.

In conversation about basketball, I tell people that I go for the Denver nuggets. Little do they know that I don't follow the NBA, I just say that because my older brother once mentioned that they're his favourite.

Some of the songs that are now my favourites have been influenced by people I know, most of my music taste has been.

My favourite food is homemade lasagne, because it reminds me of my Nain's cooking.

I still say "yes ma'am" like one of my friends always used to – a small phrase that I picked up on and started mimicking.

My cafe order is a soy chai latte because I saw my mum get it once all those years ago, and when she let me try it I loved it.

When I'm writing down numbers I add lines to all of my sevens, just like she does.

I pick the skin around my nails like my dad.

Sometimes I swirl around the ice-cream in my bowl to make it a soft serve like he once showed me how to – something he did as a kid.

I use short, literal phrases when I want to quickly communicate, a trait I hadn't even noticed I had caught on to but simply gotten used to from hearing him say them so often.

I started watching Outer Banks when I was over at one of my best friend's house, and now I've seen every season.

I don't mind how loud my laugh is now because one of my friends once told me that it lets everyone around me know that I'm happy.

I had never thought of it that way.

All these things I love now because someone that I loved, loved them first. In small ways, I am a reflection of all the people I have ever cared about.