- Following the tragedy of their mother's passing, class clown Aidan Lee is forced to navigate a world without her in it. Unable to identify with their traditional Chinese father and goofy high school friends, Aidan dresses up in their mother's drag in hopes of reconnecting.
- It's been two years since their mother's death and non-binary 18 year old, Aidan Lee, is struggling to return to "normal life". As they ride the deep waves of grief through the awkwardness of queer adolescence, Aidan walks on eggshells in an attempt to keep the intersectionality of their life separate. From their well known seat in the principal's office to the lesser known stage of this year's talent show, Aidan begins to question their place in the world and subconsciously creates a space where they can survive as their true self.
Seeking the presence of their mother, Aidan begins to experiment with gender expression by skipping class to dress in their late mother's belongings. Though they must hide this part of themselves from their loved ones, this feeling of euphoria makes the whole operation a worthwhile risk; grief is just love with nowhere to go, but through these transformations, Aidan is able to put the love somewhere.
While Aidan's family copes with the loss in dramatically different ways, it is the relationship of Aidan and their father, Tony, that takes the biggest toll. Though they experience similar traumas, the way in which they deal with their pain is not properly recognized by one another and creates rifts in the family as a result. As the family continues to function independently on autopilot, it is evident that the ability to suppress their true feelings and emotions is a learned ability passed on from generation to generation. Like many other children of immigrants, it is up to them to break this cycle for the sake of their family's wellbeing.
In the end, Aidan chooses to no longer hide the parts of themselves that they are ashamed of. In a challenge of familial expectations, Aidan finally expresses their grief, the complexities of their gender, and exposes all the other taboos that they are taught not to speak of. And for the first time in years, Aidan and their father are able to have a real conversation. Reactions are mixed, but Aidan is unapologetic for the person that they are becoming. And the following day, unbeknownst to their friends, Aidan debuts their drag persona at the talent show. As the stage lights expose every inch of them, Aidan feels the warmth of their mother. The love that was once buried is now shared for all to see, the grief for their mother set free.
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