You're arguing that the fragile, rare thing is beautiful simply because it is fragile and rare. But that's a lie, and you know it.

In the dark beside me, she smelled of sweat and sunshine and vanilla.

The whole thing was the precise opposite of what I figured it would be: slow and patient and quiet and neither particularly painful nor particularly ecstatic

What's the point in being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable? How very odd, to believe God gave you life, and yet not think that life asks more of you than watching TV.

Nerd girls are the world's greatest under-utilized romantic resource.

No," I said. And maybe it was only because Alaska couldn't hit the brakes and I couldn't hit the accelerator.

It was an indulgence, learning last words. Other people had chocolate; I had dying declarations.