Unperfect (Unperfect, #1)

by Susie Tate

Mia smiled for the first time that day. It was closed-mouthed and edged with anxiety, but it was a smile. And for some reason I was furious it wasn’t directed at me.

With real strength comes the integrity not to use physicality to control others, or emotional abuse to chip someone down to a shadow of their former self. Real strength means helping to build someone up so that they can be a real partner, an equal.

“Do you know what says ‘bugger you’ more than anything? What really sticks it to the bastads? It’s living a good life, despite what’s happened to you before. It’s letting yourself be happy. Otherwise, love … otherwise they win. Otherwise you let him win.”

This was how I won. Living this unperfect life surrounded by love was my victory.