unconventional love (bakudeku)

This book is dedicated to every young person who has ever felt like an outsider, who has been bullied for being different, or who has struggled to find their place in the world. This is for those who have faced emotional neglect and found strength in unexpected places. This is for the LGBTQ+ community, whose resilience, love, and unwavering spirits inspire me every day. It is dedicated to the dreamers, the fighters, the lovers, and the survivors. May this story remind you that you are not alone, that your voice matters, and that love, in all its forms, can conquer even the darkest of challenges. To those who dared to love unconventionally, to those who found strength in vulnerability, and to those who found family in the most unexpected of places - this one's for you. May this book be a beacon of hope, a testament to the power of self-acceptance, and a celebration of the beautiful tapestry of human connection, even when those connections are messy, complicated, and fiercely unconventional. To every misunderstood soul searching for their place under the sun, let this be a reminder that you are seen, you are heard, and you are worthy of love. Your story matters. Your truth matters. Your love matters.