Joromi Enoch has spent his life trying to become the man his father would be proud of—responsible, dependable, a provider. But one summer fling on the vibrant island of Trinidad changes everything when his lover becomes pregnant. As Joromi builds a new life in America with a different woman who becomes his wife, he leaves behind not just Trinidad but also a daughter named Trisha, born into a legacy of absence and longing.
Across the waters that separate them, young Trisha grows up in the shadow of her father's departure. Her heart carries the weight of abandonment as she constructs fantasies of the man who gave her life but not his presence. Her journey from childhood to womanhood becomes a quest for something every child deserves—a father's love and acknowledgment. Meanwhile, Joromi builds the respectable life he always thought he wanted, but the ghost of his decisions haunts the margins of his achievements.
"Scarlet Birthright" is a powerful exploration of family bonds that transcend borders and conventional definitions. As father and daughter navigate their complicated connection, both must confront uncomfortable truths: Can Joromi honor his father's legacy while acknowledging the child he left behind? Can Trisha find wholeness without the validation she seeks? This emotional narrative challenges readers to examine the true meaning of responsibility, the price of respectability, and whether it's ever too late to reclaim what was abandoned.
My Thoughts
This novella was very well written. It told a story that was both sad and hopeful at the same time. In this book we meet 19 year old Joromi, a DJ from Trinidad was just carefree with life. Much different to what his parents envisioned for him. He met a young woman at a fete one night that matched his energy and though brief, their love was strong. Joromi though felt as if he had to end the relationship for someone more stable, like Margaret who had big dreams of marriage and America.
When his first love turned up pregnant. Joromi still chose the easier route and left for America, hoping he could help everyone. But what he left behind was an unborn Trisha, who came into this world eventually longing for a connection with her father who now lived in the US. Joromi. not wanting to leave his life was left to choose between his daughter in Trinidad and his life in the States. I was cheering for Trisha all the wat to the end.
A short book that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster with a peaceful ending. I liked it.
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