Deirdre Megan Byrd

“We held our heads high and planted lemon trees in acts of defiance, praying that when they came for us, it’d be a bullet to the head. Because that was far more merciful than what awaited in the bowels of their prison system.”
― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

“When I leave, it won’t be easy. It’s going to shred my heart to ribbons and all the pieces will be scattered along Syria’s shore, with the cries of my people haunting me till the day I die.”
― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

“What about trans women?" Zara asks, writing the question in her document. "How does that work?"
"Of course I have written invocations for trans women," Emer says. "Demons do not care about bodies. They only care about souls.”
― Krystal Sutherland, The Invocations

“Sex was more of a mechanical need to ‘oil the motor’ and keep me somewhat cooled off. I never understood why people made such a big deal about sex. It did nothing more for me than a good workout could get me.”
― S.K. Pryntz, Shattered Reflections