Also, as an author, character has always been what I'm most interested in - much more so than plot or setting, although those are good things too.

Hey. What is it that famous person said? 'It'll all work out in the end, and if it doesn't, that means it's not the end yet'?

I'm sorry," he said again, and this time he took those words and owned them.

Some people do want to stand on the rooftop and scream out their story. Others are cowering in the corner, or sitting with a blank face in class, and not knowing how to tell their story.

I keep what I know about Sarah Lynn and Lawrence to myself. I also remind myself that even if Sarah Lynn does have a scary strict father, that doesn't release her from the responsibility of treating others with respect. Abuse of power is wrong, no matter the context, no matter the history. What is "power" anyway? Power is an ego trip. Power is a way to rise yourself up by lowering others, and I want nothing of it.

But you have to live in the present. You have to take the old and make it new -- that's my point.

Sometimes when we forget to do things for others, it's because we're too wrapped up in our own problems.