Thanks?” He thinks I’m…lovely? The idea that Kyle thought I was not just hot, but lovely, sent pangs of something like fear through me, an intense pressure in my heart.

The thought of being completely dependent disturbs people till the moment their eyes are opened to reality.

I bought this place for a pittance, because it was a dump. Rejected, abandoned, unwanted. Like me. I fixed it up. Made it mine.

My thoughts are free to roam back to the way she leaned her head on my arm for a split second, as if wishing she could let herself go, let herself lean farther. But she...

It’s hard to decide matters of the heart, especially when Self-love is rooted in our decisions. You’ll need to balance your needs with the people you love in order to avoid hurting others.

Because holding on to it is killing you.

No, I don’t.

You should really be more careful who you let put their hands on you.” A silky male voice hummed as hot, minty breath wafted around her ear and danced slowly across her nose. Sera inhaled...

Stop. Just stop right there. Granted, you should’ve never gotten involved with a douchetard like him, but that’s no excuse for what he did.

I was just saying your name.

Really, Sera?

Yeah. I know why she cuts. I just don’t know the seed-reason. It’s deep inside her, and it’ll take time and patience to get it out of her.

I sort of lost my temper.

If I were you, I’d clear those cobwebs out because there isn’t a shop-vac out there strong enough to handle that job.

I don’t even know how long she sobs. Time ceases to pass, and she cries, cries, cries. Clutches me and makes these sounds of a soul being ripped in two, the grief so long denied...

The greatest wonderful feeling is falling in love.

She closes her eyes, and I can see the moisture. She’s deep-breathing again, and I notice her hands are clutched around the opposing wrists, nails digging in deep, hard, scratching. Pain to replace pain.

It’s the hardest fucking thing. It’s why we drink and do drugs and fight. It’s why I play music and build engines.

Love notes to my husband, Jeremiah Nii Mama Akita; I will always love you. I am grateful for a blessed life shared with you.

There’s no magical healing in this. I won’t wake up tomorrow fixed and joyful. I’ll still hurt and grieve. But moments like this, with Colton? They make it all bearable. He doesn’t fix me, doesn’t...

You’re not broken. You’re hurting.

Yes, it will.

The door slams in response, and I laugh. I’m glad she can laugh. It means she really is coping. I know she’s internalizing a lot, though. Putting on a show for me. She’ll have new...

Love is what stands in the way of self discovery, try not to find, it will find you.

You have to. You can’t bleed it out. You can’t keep pretending, drinking it down.

Hot heart-blood leaked from my face. From my eyes and my nose and my mouth. Not tears, because those would never stop. This was just liquid heartbreak seeping from my pores.

Love is a weakness which converts even the strongest minds as its slave and makes them sing its tune.

I also know I’m not going to stay away. I’m going to grab onto her and let myself get cut. I’m good at pain. I’m good at bleeding, emotionally and physically.

But we have to learn to be free. We have to, Nell. Doesn’t mean happy all the time, or okay all the time. It’s okay not to be okay. I told you that, but I’m...

If it’s me who loves you, you’ll know, as I will tell it you in my own words.

I respect the hell out of her for how hard she’s working to be okay. I just wish she’d let me show her how to let go, how to let herself hurt. I want to...