With my mom, when someone was gone, they were gone. She didn't waste another minute thinking about them, and neither should you.

As Isabel acted out her date, both of them laughing, I stayed in the kitchen, out of sight, and pretended she was telling me, too. And that, for once, I was part of this hidden language of laughter and silliness and girls that was, somehow, friendship.

I was worn out, broken: He had taken almost everything. But he'd been all I'd had, all this time. And when the police led him away, I pulled out of the hands of all these loved one, sobbing, screaming, everything hurting, to try and make him stay.

Change is inevitable, though," he replied. "As is disappointment. Best to get used to it now.

My books are so tame!

I couldn't tell her. I couldn't tell anyone. As long as I didn't say it aloud, it wasn't real.

If things don't work out the way you want, hold your head up high and be proud. And try again. And again. And again!