Patronus

Black women are my patronus, and surrounding myself with villages of black women has been my biggest form of self-care.

For my dear, dear #Witchlanders, you are my patronus. Real talk here: you are my guardians against the darkness. You’re the reason I keep writing every day, the reason I didn’t give up even when this book almost killed me, the reason I want to tell this story at all.

She’s my patronus. When I can’t deal with real life, I escape into her virtual space, where everything is perfectly lit, perfectly coifed, and perfectly accompanied by neo-soul music I never hear anywhere but natural hair videos and the beauty supply shop.

I am 16 years old. My patronus is a unicorn and I literally talk to moon and love the croissant crescent. I love to talk about fireflies, stars and books.

The screen came alive with a little ‘Hi’ / I knew you were my patronus

She wore khaki shorts, scuffed hiking boots, and a lavender T-shirt with an open book on the front that read My patronus is a bookworm.

Since then, Jimmie joined my relay team, and the rest is history. I’m convinced he’s my patronus. I need his fire, jokes and brotherly love to get across Death Valley.

Falling for you / Did me good / I swear it did // You changed my attitude / My patronus / And my life // You changed me [an illustration of a Patronus-like dog]