And for me, it means honoring those who've loved me and sacrificed for me by choosing to be the kind of warrior who delivers justice even when it threatens to hurt me.

Let Ian laugh. Let him believe pain will ruin me. I know better. I've already been ruined once, and I know how to rise from the ashes. I know how to find my broken pieces.

Silent acquiescence in the face of tyranny is no better than outright agreement.

Maybe that's what love is. Giving others the power to hurt you and trusting that they'll use it to heal you instead.