I would love to say how nice it is to see you again, but that would be a lie. And I am nothing if not honest.

There's something about sitting alone in the dark that reminds you how big the world really is, and how far apart we all are.

I start with a beat sheet, which is more of an abbreviated outline. It hits all the major plot points. From there, I move to note cards. But the most important part of my process is my inspiration board.

I stared at the creased map on my wall, the thin green line connecting all the places I had read about. There they were, all the cities of my imaginary future, held together with tape and marker and pins. In six months, a lot had changed. There was no thin green line that could lead me to my future anymore. Just a girl.

Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be.

Teenagers. Everything is so apocalyptic.

She leaned into my shoulder. "Maybe you don't have to be a Caster to have power." I pushed her hair behind her ear. "Maybe you just have to fall for one.