Because it takes more courage to heal the world's hurts than to inflict them.

I’d never known it was possible to love as he did— with complete devotion yet devoid of promises.

We're broken in complementary ways, thus rendering our damage comprehensible to each other.

We stand a professional distance apart, as if I can’t feel his pain screaming in my head. Mine amplifies his; they share a joint sound—that of glass breaking—until they swell to a crescendo that deafens.

I’m sick of asking questions everyone else already knows the answers to.

Finally, I understood what else was going on. I might be slow, but given time, I put the pieces together. "You have no reason to be jealous, I promise. We talked... and trained. You're the only boy who gets close like this." "Oh." A long, slow breath escaped him. "I feel so stupid." I put my lips to his cheek and whispered, "Don't. I love you, Fade.

With my partner beside me, I fear nothing, not even death.