Erika DeShay is an English teacher living in Denver, Colorado who works to inspire her students to love literature. Her poetry can be seen in Spoken Black Girl, Fatal Flaw, and 45 Magazine. She is excited to put a little fiction out into the world. She is currently exploring the juxtaposition of joy in times of harrowing sorrow and how Blackness affects her view of the world. When there’s time, she’s probably baking a pie.