Its important to know stories. I felt the earth shift to make a place for you when you were born, and I came to tell you stories while you are young. And like me, you were born with a word on your tongue.

I'm the sheen on water, Rin thought. I'm a looking glass. I'm not real.

You can be who you will,” he repeated. His voice softened. “And if you will have me, I will be the one beside you.

She closed the book and put her cheek against it. There was still an odor of a library on it, of dust, leather, binding glue, and old paper, one book carrying the smell of hundreds.

Your head will be fine,” said Miri. “It’s your neck you should worry about.

As a general rule, writing is very inconvenient.

... until Miri could not help it any longer and she laughed out loud. The sound broke the game. Peder looked at her. He reached out, and she thought he meant to grab her straw or perhaps yank her hair as he used to when they were little. But her put his hand behind her head and, leaning forward, pulled her face to his. He kissed her. One long, slow kiss.