Loosely modelled after an otome (乙女; lit. trans. “young girl”) game, with special illustrations by JOYRU (Jie Ru Lim), Adeline Loh’s dream girl, loading is part of AFTERIMAGE’s select range of limited-edition concept-driven chapbooks, making them as engrossing to read as they are beautiful to behold.
dream girl, loading bends and takes shape around the dizzying promise of an otome game, where possibilities for a beautiful life unfold along a series of carefully wrought choices and the bets we place on ourselves.
The poems in this chapbook reach through different timelines and realities in search of happily-ever-afters and more fantastical ways of being. Is girlhood a state of endless possibility until a hero comes along? How long can one remain kawaii before smashing headfirst into heartbreak and regret? In the light of so many unfathomable conclusions, these poems chart a blueprint for how there might still be meaning in owning up to and remaining steadfast in the choices we’ve made, even when they’re not ideal—for the decisions we make and the endings we deserve. Are you ready to begin a new game?
About the Authors:-
Adeline Loh (1998–2025) is a writer from Singapore. She has a BA (Hons) in Literature from Yale-NUS College and a MA (Research) in English Literature from Nanyang Technological University. Her poems have been published in journals such as sinθ and The Madrigal, and were nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the Best New Poets anthology. dream girl, loading is the author’s posthumous debut in print.
| Year | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Format | Paperback |
| Author |
Adeline Loh |
| Publisher |
Afterimage Press |
