Rosewater: A Novel

you taught me the word eclectic And pointed to my heart and told me to protect it At all costs

“I think there is something feminist as fuck about a queer woman being paid to make straight men squirm.”

We have been handed scraps and asked to make a meal from the beginning of time. It’s fine, because we do.

Although I was never too fond of the smell or the hot metal and sound of my thoroughly greased scalp sizzling, it was a moment just for us, and at the time I wanted nothing more than to have a full head of straightened hair. And to be held in loving hands.

She’s standing in the middle of the kitchen with her arms wide open and I dive straight into them. She squeezes me deep. She feels smaller than before, more fragile. I used to be convinced that my superhero nan would never age, but I can see that time is enveloping her.

And even though I’m in a room full of people, I feel completely alone.

“It’s probably a good thing I never got in your knickers then, isn’t it? I’d probably have broken your heart.” My words tumble out without grace and Juliet’s forehead crinkles, the mood shifting. “No, my heart broke when you stopped speaking to me.” “Oh Juliet, you know I love you, don’t you? I’ll always love you. It’s just …” “You don’t need to sa

“Elsie, you know I don’t like it when you don’t speak up. I raised you to use your voice, not swallow it.”

There’s nothing any of us can say to reassure him because the reality is that the system is broken. The people who should care don’t give a shit about fixing things. Whatever end of the political system they claim to be from, they don’t consider us, not really. We all know who is pulling the strings.