When finally she finished and stood herself up, he put his arm around her, best-buddy style, and they walked on. There was no request for a kiss. Nothing like that. You can love Rudy for that, if you like.

Very suddenly. Yes, quite suddenly, I didn't feel like I could handle my feeling of aloneness.

I walked home, seeing all my doubt from the other side. Have you ever seen that? Like when you go on holiday. On the way back, everything is the same but it looks a little different than it did on the way. It's because you're seeing it backwards.

My own eyes try to sleep, but they don't. They stay wide awake as time snarls forward and silence drops down, like measured thought.

I'm not the messenger at all. I'm the message.

Tears were frozen to the book theif's face.

Amplified by the still of night, the book opened -- a gust of wind.