I had killed our careful relationship by driving my tongue through its heart and pushing it off a cliff.

I was never more alive than when the Dark Passenger was driving.

The mind picks some very bad times to take a walk doesn't it?

It’s an odd term, 'girlfriend,' particularly for grown persons. And in practice it provides an even odder concept. Generally speaking, in adults it described a woman, not a girl, who was willing to provide sex, not friendship. In fact, from what I had observed it was quite possible for one to actively dislike one’s girlfriend, although of course true hatred is reserved for marriage.

It took me a moment. I blinked, and suddenly it swam into focus and I had to frown very hard to keep myself from giggling out loud like the schoolgirl Deb had accused me of being. Because he had arranged the arms and legs in letters, and the letters spelled out a single small word: BOO. The three torsos were carefully arranged below the BOO in a quarter-circle, making a cute little Halloween smile. What a scamp.

I did not like this feeling of having feelings.

It was such an unexpected and genuine smile that if I only had a soul I'm sure I would have felt quite guilty.