It turns out I'm absolutely terrible at staying away from you. It's a very serious problem.

But if it was always a point of speculation, where one person insisted it was a certain way and another denied it, how would anyone ever hold on to the truth?

All the talk in the world won't undo what we are. They put us in a corner we could never get out of on our own, and they're not in a rush to pull us out.

It was a special feeling, irreplaceable, that was priceless. No queen on the throne could feel more important than me.

Great. Now the queen thought I was a misfit, too.

Just head over to the risers, Lady America," she said. "You may sit anywhere you like. So you know, most of the girls have already claimed the front row." She looked sorry for me, as if she were delivering bad news. "Oh, thank you," I said, and went happily to take a seat in the back.

I let myself be sad. I let myself think of him.