The Worst Best Man

by Mia Sosa

We must never let our emotions get the better of us; doing so is either a sign of weakness, one that diminishes our well-earned respect, or a mark of combativeness, which will cause people to say we’re irrational. And as women—women of color, more specifically—we simply can’t afford to be perceived in those terms.

Strength is a state of mind, and I’m willing it into existence, dammit.

He’s that friend you always find your way back to, the one who knows all your secrets and doesn’t care that you’re flawed, the one who’s seen your “before” pictures because he’s in them.

“Thing is,” he says, his chin resting on my head, “there’s no single way to be a badass.

There’s room for different kinds of greatness. Even if you cry doing it. Hell, especially if you cry doing it.”