I want to know." His words are a whisper, barely audible. "I want to know with you.

For the first time in a long time, I actually look at her. I've always thought Lena was pretty, but now it occurs to me that at some point - last summer? last year? - she became beautiful.

The priests and the scientists are right about one thing: At our heart, at our base, we are no better than animals.

Eventually she came. She appeared suddenly, exactly like she'd done that day- she stepped into the sunshine, she jumped, she laughed and threw her head back, so her long ponytail nearly grazed the waistband of her jeans. After that, I couldn't think about anything else. The mole on the inside of her right elbow, like a dark blot of ink. The way she ripped her nails to shreds when she was nervous. Her eyes, deep as a promise. Her stomach, pale and soft and gorgeous, and the tiny dark cavity of her belly button. I nearly went crazy.

No one can tell us no. No one can make us stop. We have picked each other and the rest of the world can go to hell.

This is what happens when you try to help people. You get screwed.

Amazing how hope lives. Without air or water, with hardly anything at all to nurture it.