Ben Ace

“I know that feeling too well—the sickly blend of shame and anger, even after all these years still not being sure who to blame more: them or yourself. The deadly undercurrent of hope that one day, just maybe, they might change their minds and come back for you.”
― Victoria Lee, A Shot in the Dark: A Novel

“Appetite is embarrassing enough; visibly trying to satiate it, utterly mortifying.”
― Zaina Arafat, You Exist Too Much

“In hindsight, I was such a fool to have assumed Qieluo would stand by me just because she’s also female.
It was my grandmother who crushed my feet in half.
It was my mother who encouraged me and Big Sister to offer ourselves up as concubines so our brother could afford a future bride.
It was always the village aunties who’d sit around gossiping about which girl hadn’t been married off yet, despite complaining nonstop about their own husbands. And then they’d congratulate new mothers for being “blessed” to have a boy, despite being female themselves.”
― Xiran Jay Zhao, Iron Widow

“It's been so hard for me to believe that being adored doesn't mean I'm one mistake away from being despised.”
― Sophie Gonzales, If This Gets Out