when we're married, can we go to the ocean? I've never been

Books are more real when you read them outside.

People shouldn't have to earn kindness. They should have to earn cruelty.

his voice was centuries old

"Grace," I said, my vision swirling now because of her blood smeared across my wrists, "Can you hear me?" She nodded then stumbled to her knees. I knelt beside her; her eyes were huge and afraid and my heart was breaking. "I'll come find you, I said. "I promise I'll come find you. Don't forget me. Don't-don't lose yourself."

As I handed her the bag, the old scars on my wrist throbbed with buried memories.

I slowly climbed back to my feet, walked back into the emergency department through the silently swishing glass doors, and, covered in my girlfriend's blood, lied perfectly for the first time in my life. "I tried to stop her.