Ubong Edidion

My mum. Raised 7 children, mainly as a single parent. Due to the third coming out arse first, she ended up having 5 caesareans. She built the garden all around our house, using spade and wheelbarrow to move tonnes of rock on her own. Throughout my childhood, despite having next to no money, we never went without. Mum grew fruit and vegetables for us, raised ducks, chickens, geese, and bought in bulk to keep us healthy and fit. She survived the father of her babies trying to murder her and she saved my 2 oldest siblings from him. For many years she has been leader at the local pre-school, known as Aunty by small children all around. "This is Aunty L's daughter" parents tell their children when I meet them, and they look at me with big eyes full of wonder. I had a tree planted to recognise the young lives she has been part of and helped shape. When my sister was being eaten alive by clear cell ovarian cancer in 2021, Mum spent 5 days and nights in a chair next to her. She held her hand and talked to her softly as she took her final breath. Badness is not achieved by posing to please the male gaze, badness is achieved by being a fucking warrior.