...but the truth is that I don't feel like I can carry anyone but myself right now. The streets are empty. I am empty. Or, no--I am full of pain. It's my life that's empty.

She transforms once again into someone carefree, and I transform into someone whose only care is her.

Laughter rarely lasts longer than a few seconds, it's true. But how enjoyable those few seconds are.

I guess I don't believe these things can ever be easy, although I also don't see why they have to be hard.

Because what's the point of something virtual if it doesn't end up being real?

Measure the hope of that moment, that feeling. Everything else will be measured against it.

Danger comes in many forms, I suppose. For some people, it might be jumping off a bridge or climbing impossible moutains. For others, it could be a tawdry love affair or telling off a mean-looking bus driver because he doesn't like to stop for noisy teenagers. It could be cheating at cards or eating a peanut even though you're allergic. For me, danger might be getting out from the protective cloak of my family and venturing into the world more of my own, even though I don't know what- or who- awaits me.