All we had was her room, her stories, and the quiet that settled in as we tried in vain to spread ourselves out and fill the space she'd left behind.

Despite my dad's assurances I was strangely nervous my stomach tight ever since we'd hung up. Maybe Deb had picked up on this and it was why she'd pretty much talked nonstop since I'd approached her and asked for a ride. I'd barely had time to explain the situation before she had launched into a dozen stories to illustrate the point that Things Happened But People Were Okay in the End.

If you expect the worst, you'll never be disappointed.

I had stepped into his arms, showing him my raw, broken heart.

It's a lot easier to be lost than found. It's the reason we're always searching and rarely discovered--so many locks not enough keys.

After everything that happened, how could I miss him? But I did, I did.

I wanted to be somewhere else ... Someplace where the sight of me sobbing would tie me to no one and no one to me.