“It's Winter and There Are No Butterflies” is a braided narrative that intertwines the memories of the author, Alex Rubi, and her grandmother. When the author’s grandmother passed away, she struggled to come to terms with this loss, especially since she felt that she could no longer see signs of her Ama in the world. This forced her to question: What happens to memories after a person has passed? Where do their stories get passed down? What is at stake when these narratives are forgotten? This thinking led her to contemplate how others preserve their familial memories and narratives when they are at risk of being lost forever. Through the act of writing, the author captured and intertwined fragments of her grandmother’s life, weaving together memories from herself and those close to her. By braiding these memories into a narrative essay, the author discovered the transformative aspect of storytelling in navigating grief and preserving family memories. This project showcases the importance of the braided narrative as a tool for remembrance and cultural preservation. “It’s Winter and There Are No Butterflies” works as the vessel to which the author can preserve the stories and memory of her grandmother. 

The student’s RIE faculty advisor, Andy Harper, pushed the student to realize their passion for nonfiction writing and the sub-genres included within it such as the braided essay. The student always wanted to write a story inspired by their grandmother, but was never sure exactly how to do so. Their advisor introduced them to the limitless possibilities in nonfiction writing where they found ways to express their grief and showcase their memories within a story. Dr. Harper’s help pushed the student to better understand their writing in the greater context of nonfiction literature.