The Strength of Cotton

I wrote this short story for the most important woman in my life. She is the strongest, most beautiful, most radiant, and most resilient woman out there. She is truly amazing and doesn't belong in a world as fragile and horrible as this one. I love this woman with all my heart and I'm so proud to be her great-granddaughter. My life would not be complete without her.

Thank you, Mamaw, for always supporting me for who I am and making sure I feel safe in this unsafe world. You truly make a difference in everyone's life and I cannot thank you enough for being my great-grandmother. At 83, you are still going strong and will always be the woman I look up to. I try every day to become a better person through the model you have made of yourself and I cannot be any more grateful than I am for you right now for teaching me the ways of a woman. You taught me that women are strong even when they think they're weak, loving even in unloving situations, and resilient in back-breaking circumstances. You taught me that women are beautiful, inside and out. You are a woman of honour, love, faith, and family. You taught me to love myself. Because of you, I am where I am today. You'll still be my best friend forever. I love you.
~Your favourite great-granddaughter, Harlie