Just the Way You Are

by Beth Moran

haberdashery,

Small items used for sewing

‘I’m not thoughtless enough to bring children into a loveless marriage.’

It was just me, trying to survive out here in the big wide world alone, handling adult responsibilities and navigating each day without starting wars

Beneath the stupid expression, I was slowly dying, one humiliated cell giving up on me at a time.

‘We all need a bit of extra help sometimes, and that’s okay.

there are imperfect, mixed-up, complicated people everywhere. People who are simply doing the best they can to shake off whatever’s been dumped on them, pick themselves up and keep on going.

I will make a thousand mistakes, I will take many wrong turns, and I may well fail spectacularly, along with every other person who ever lived. And when these things happen, I will shake it off and get back up again – maybe accepting a helping hand, if I need it – and I will keep on going.