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.

You wanna-I dunno-get coffee or something sometime?

Getting what you want is just as difficult as not getting what you want. Because then you have to figure out what to do with it instead of figuring out what to do without it.

That lasting things do, in fact, last.

Love me less, but love me for a long time

There are things I miss," you said. "But if I didn't have you, I'd miss more.

After working for so long on being sure of each other, sure of this thing, suddenly we were unsure again.