Lies are attempts to hide the truth by willfully denying facts. Fiction, on the other hand, is an attempt to reveal the truth by ignoring facts.
John GreenIt always happened like this: he would look and look for the keys to Satanโs Hearse and then finally heโd just give up and say, โFine. Iโll take the fugging bus,โ and on his way out the door, heโd see the keys. Keys show up when you reconcile yourself to the bus; Katherines appear when you start to disbelieve the world contains another Katherine; and, sure enough, the Eureka moment arrived just as he began to accept it would never come.
John GreenI don't suppose I can wear the flamingo tie," he said as he pulled on black socks. "It's a bit festive, given the occasion," I responded. "Can't wear it to the opera," said the Colonel, almost smiling. "Can't wear it to a funeral. Can't use it to hang myself. It's a bit useless, as ties go." I gave him a tie.
John GreenBut that wasn't quite right. I called it a nine because I was saving my ten. And here it was, the great and terrible ten, slamming me again and again as I lay still and alone in my bed staring at the ceiling, the waves tossing me against the rocks then pulling me back out to sea so they could launch me again into the jagged face of the cliff, leaving me floating faceup on the water, undrowned.
John GreenAugustus: โYou probably need some rest.โ Me: โIโm okay.โ Augustus: โOkay.โ (Pause.) โWhat are you thinking about?โ Me: โYou.โ Augustus: โWhat about me?โ Me: โโI do not know which to prefer, / The beauty of inflections / Or the beauty of innuendos, / The blackbird whistling / Or just after.โโ Augustus: โGod, you are sexy.โ Me: โWe could go to your room.โ Augustus: โIโve heard worse ideas.
John Green