Helena-Sophie is a nonfiction piece about my Uncle Jeff’s journey into fatherhood. My cousin Helena-Sophie and my uncle Jeff have a complicated relationship, existing in a world of lies, secrets, and love. This story is told through my uncle’s eyes, and key moments and facts are not fabricated. I wanted to write a true non-fiction piece.
In this story, I explore elements of personal reflection, and I test my own ability as a writer to embellish those moments and deliver them in my own words. I wanted this piece to be a reflection not only of my uncle and cousin’s life but a testament to my four years studying English. This memoir is a composition of my years of schooling, learning, and development as a writer. This work ultimately dives deep into the intricacies of Jeff’s relationship with his daughter, and the pain he suffers each day he's apart from her. I believe in the value of sharing stories that are unlike ones we’ve read before. And even more important would be sharing stories that seem difficult or even uncomfortable to relate to. The best literary works are the ones that spark the deepest conversations.
The narrative unfolds through Jeff’s eyes, beginning in his early college years studying abroad in Germany, all the way to the present day. As the memoir progresses, readers are invited to resonate with Jeff or not and develop their own opinions on this unethical situation guided by their own personal morals. What sets this creative nonfiction piece apart is its ability to highlight unconventional love. The story delves deep into the lives, thoughts, and emotions of the characters, fostering a profound connection between the reader and the story's world. A world that exists in real time, and is still being molded and lived in by these very characters today.
Helena-Sophie offers not only an entertaining and unique reading experience but also prompts contemplation of Jeff’s morality. It illuminates the human condition that we are wired to love, and it invites readers to reflect on their own lives and experiences. This work stands as a testament to the power of storytelling, romance, heartbreak, and the depth of the human experience.