Seriously, some of my best friends are libraries.

How was I supposed to survive here? These Portlanders were an entirely different breed of white people.

When boys talked, it sounded like feral dogs barking. They fiended for attention, were always aggressive, and made me wish I could put them down.

I was used to the buttoned up, wealthy, Casper-skinned whites that always spoke in their library voices and used words like sassy and spicy to describe me. I was used to white people that embodied the suburban American dream. White people like Lainie's parents, who wished their daughters weren't dating me, but tolerated it and engaged me in discussions about affirmative action and how I benefited from it.

I fall asleep with that book in my arms because words protect hearts and I've got this ache in my chest that won't go away

I understood 'microaggressions' to mean 'little bullshit acts of racism.

Libraries are safe but also exciting. Libraries are where nerds like me go to refuel. They are safe-havens where the polluted noise of the outside world, with all the bullies and bro-dudes and anti-feminist rhetoric, is shut out. Libraries have zero tolerance for bullshit. Their walls protect us and keep us safe from all the bastards that have never read a book for fun.

Two hundred years ago, Mother Nature snapped. She hit the world with a plague that ate greed. The 1% was her appetizer. Then another 60% of the population, 'til the whole world stood still. The chaos killed millions and crushed capitalism (that system that let people worship money more than earth, FYI. I know, so gross, right?). The weather she sent was so wild, it changed the face of the planet forever. Everyone was left scrambling to survive.

Two hundred years ago, Mother Nature snapped. She hit the world with a plague that ate greed. The 1% was her appetizer. Then another 60%of the population, 'til the whole world stood still. The chaos killed millions and crushed capitalism (that system that let people worship money more than earth, FYI. I know, so gross, right?). The weather she sent was so wild, it changed the face of the planet forever. Everyone was left scrambling to survive.

Read because you’re tired of secrets.