People call me Umi (海), a nod to my grandmother, who believed ‘ocean’ was the perfect name for someone who lives at the mercy of undercurrents. I’m just a girl with sensitivities—I’ve stopped trying to hide it—so sometimes I write about it, and sometimes it writes me.

Writing was my first language. I had my first diary at 8 years old.

My curiosity about other people often outruns my willingness to examine myself. It has led me into trouble— the instructive kind.

I don’t pretend to know exactly where this work is headed. What I do know is that I’m intrigued by longing, ambition, memory, and the subtle architectures that hold a life together.

If offbeat monologues, controlled heartache, and careful attempts at translating experience into language resonate with you, I hope you stay.

1 This is a reader-supported publication. If you’d like to support the continuation of this work, you can subscribe below— free or paid.

Regardless, thank you for being here at all.

You can also find me on other platforms (from my favorite to least):

https://www.instagram.com/kafkas.doll

https://x.com/umikathryn

https://www.instagram.com/u.m.ii/

https://www.youtube.com/@umikathryn