By Nadia Porras
Acrylic on Canvas
55in by 39.5in
Since the moment I took my first steps, a strong and majestic almond tree stood before my balcony—an eternal companion through childhood, adolescence, and youth. It stood as a guardian against countless storms and hurricanes, a silent witness to every stage of my life.
Its colors are imprinted in my memory; they return to me each time I paint. Its leaves have found their way into many of my works, carrying with them fragments of my story.
Just before I left my homeland to immigrate to the United States, someone decided to dry it out. I watched its slow and painful death—the transformation of its vibrant green leaves into fading tones, as if autumn had gently knocked on its door.
The twilight of that almond tree marked the end of one cycle and the beginning of another—my own departure.
This is my tribute and farewell—to my country, and to that magnificent tree that stood by me for so many years.
