Follow your dreams and believe in yourself.

Stop chasing society’s definition of success and chase your own definition of success. Success is an emotion that is experienced when you are completely fulfilled and content with where you are in life; it has nothing to do with a specific job, a specific amount of money in your bank account, or the quality of material possessions you acquire. You can be the richest man in the world, but still, feel unsuccessful, and you can be the poorest man in the world, but still, feel extremely successful.

I don’t need a ritual to tell me we have a biological connection, or that the gods have already decided we complement each other. Even with that, Sanura, we have our own free will. If we decide to begin a relationship, I want it to be because we want to be together, not because biology or the gods say we should be together.

Trust her heart, Assefa, and believe in yourself. No matter the challenge, no matter the foe, be brave, be wise, be the undefeated Mngwa of lore.

Ah, sweetheart, what are you doing?”

“I think that’s pretty obvious. I’m witch-handling your orgasm-giver.

You buy so little and ask for even less, which makes me want to spoil you. That’s not how I grew up, which you will soon see. We Berbers ask for everything and get even more in return, much of which we don’t deserve and haven’t earned. But you have access to so much but never touch it. I respect that, and your parents for raising you to value friends and family over money and power.