You were in Sweden?" Boomer asked. "No," I said. "The trip got called off at the last minute. Because of political the unrest" "In Sweden?" Priya seemed skeptical. "Yeah-isn't it strange how the Times isn't covering it? Half the country's on strike because of that thing the crown prince said about Pippi Longstocking Which means no meatballs for Christmas, if you know what I mean." "That's so sad!" Boomer said.

Be careful what you're doing, because no one is ever who you want them to be.

That's the question, isn't it?" you said one night. "Does death bring freedom, or is it the end of freedom?

Deep down, you see, I long to be arcane, esoteric. I would love to confound people with their own language.

Because it is senior year I have begun to see things as potential absences. The things I love will become the things I'll miss.

I only have eyes for you.

having someone think of me that way was like discovering a new window in the room i'd lived in all my life.