If I lose it now, I will lose you, too. I know that. I hate it.

Why do we even bother? Why do we make ourselves so open to such easy damage? Is it all loneliness? Is it all fear? Or is it just to experience those narcotic moments of belonging with someone else?

But I think we both knew, even then, that what we had was something even more rare, and even more meaningful. I was going to be his friend, and was going to show him possibilities. And he, in turn, would become someone I could trust more than myself.

love is tied to truth. I think of them as unhappily conjoined twins.

There is no reason that we should ever be ashamed of our bodies or ashamed of our love.

My pride shut me up, my hurt shut me down, and together they ganged up on my hope and let her get away.

I love you,” she says. “I love you,” I say. And then we hang up, because nothing else needs to be said after that. I want to give Zara her life back. Even if I feel I deserve something like this, I don’t deserve it at her expense.