What Remains: Nicole

Nicole is a friend with whom I’ve shared grief and growth, and her words here carry both the personal and the collective. From Guam, she speaks with the voice of her Chamorro heritage, honoring scars that run through her people’s history while lifting up the resilience, culture, and memory that remain. What she shares is not only her truth, but an opening for us to pause, remember, and listen.

What remains…

There are scars on my island that linger in my people’s hearts. Although we have existed for over 4,000 years on this earth, in this minuscule space, in this vast Pacific Ocean, a recent history of only four years has left its deep mark on Guam. My people witnessed, wept, and worked in a world war that washed upon our shores nearly 85 years ago.

Today, what remains is our culture, customs, and community. Our resilience, reverence, and resolve are unmatched. Our grandparents and parents showed us, taught us, and guided us.

We see the scars. We do not hide them.

We remember. We honor. We understand.

— Shared by Nicole