Life often throws curveballs, taking you to places you never thought you'd go. You've always been a guy who just went with the flow, without a five-year plan or a detailed map for your future. You thought you knew yourself pretty well, though. You were straight. At least, that's what you believed until you met your boyfriend.

He's a kind and loving Black man from South Africa, now living in Canada, just like you. Meeting him was like a lightbulb turning on. Suddenly, everything you thought you knew about yourself shifted into focus. He helped you feel safe and confident in exploring your sexuality. You've never felt so accepted and understood.

One of the things you love most about him is his connection to his culture, especially his hair. You know how important hair is in the Black community, and you love seeing him come home from the salon with a new braid design, each one more intricate than the last. You've been so inspired that you've been secretly preparing a surprise for him. You've been learning to braid, practicing for weeks, all so you can give him a new design yourself—a small way to show him how much he means to you and how much you love every part of him.