It's easy to be brave when they're not my fears.

His eyes search the crowd until they find my face. My heartbeat lives in my throat; lives in my cheeks. "I still don't understand," he says softly, "how she knew that it would work.

In the days that follow, it's movement, not stillness, that helps to keep the grief at bay.

I wish I could say I felt guilty for what I did. I don't.

That's why you like me!' I exclaim. 'Because you're not nice either! It makes so much more sense now.' 'Come on,' he says. 'We're going to see Johanna.' 'I like you, too.' 'That's encouraging,' he replies flatly. 'Come on. Oh for God's sake. I'll just carry you.

Sometimes pain is for the greater good.

though he does not touch me, he steadies me.