Harvard University

“I can’t sleep without them!” my face scrunched up, clutching piles of cushions in an uncharacteristic moment of seven-year-old stubbornness. An overnight trip without my Stitch, face pillow? My dolphin pillow pets? This was absolutely unacceptable, robbing me of the comfort and structure that was my nightly routine. Today, ten years later, I still relish flopping backwards onto my bed, cushioned by my carefully curated collection of pillows, each encasing a different side of myself. Smiling beside me is my chibi avocado pillow, a celebratory gift from my parents for finally trying guacamole.…