Felix Ever After

by Kacen Callender

“So what do we do?” Sarah asks. “Force the bastards to see that we deserve their time of day? Make them understand that if it weren’t for women like me, they wouldn’t have any of their damn rights in the first place?” Tom gives a nonjudgmental shrug. “Is that really what you want to spend your energy on?” he asks. “What should I be spending my energy on instead?” “Yourself,” he suggests. “Loving and accepting and celebrating yourself, and loving and celebrating and supporting the young women like you who will come next. Changing this world, yes—we need people who will fight for our rights, fight for justice in the courts so that it will be better for the next generation. But creating our own world, not just for ourselves in our bubble, but one that can spread to those who need it most—one filled with our stories, our history, our love and pride—that’s just as beautiful. That’s just as necessary. Without that, we forget ourselves. Crumple under the pain of feeling isolated, unaccepted by others, without realizing that, above all else, we need to love and accept ourselves first.”