Interview by Mahdi Tanim
What inspired you to write “Between Me and The Sky”?
I wanted the reader to see what Leonid was going through without giving his life story. Leonid has been through so much in his life that it felt like I needed to show everyone what he had to go through every day of his life. Not only that, but I also wanted to shed light on how child abuse can affect someone’s life; despite Leonid being a victim his whole life, he still reaches for his father.
There’s a recurring image of the sun being covered by clouds. What does that symbolize in the narrator’s life or mindset?
I’ve always said that Leonid is the sun in everyone’s life. He is the reason why it’s sunny and why everyone likes him. He radiates joy and happiness because he also wants others to feel that. The clouds are meant to represent every bad thing that happens to him, as we know when the sun is covered by the clouds, it’s gloomy and almost sad. Every time Leonid goes through something bad, it’s like he shuts down and becomes sad. I used the weather to show how rapidly his mood can change when something bad occurs.
What can you tell us about the narrator’s relationship with “Papa”? Why do you think the call ends abruptly?
Leonid loves his papa despite everything he put him through. He wants nothing more than to have a good and healthy relationship with him, but every chance he gets, it never happens. Leonid holds his family very close to his heart. The call ends suddenly because his papa wants nothing to do with him; Leonid is nothing to him but a child he has. His papa is fully aware of the power he has and how easily he can control Leonid. When Leonid asked if he wanted to do something together, his papa simply shut him down with the phone call ending. He’s cruel because he hates Leonid.
Read Aguilar’s short fiction, “Between Me and the Sky.”
Andrea Aguilar is a writer at heart and she has always dreamed of her piece to be featured! She wants to write a book one day and show everyone just how much she loves to write. She also fully believes that the more keychains in your bag the happier you are!
