“A gift. All of it.”
“I missed you. Every second, every breath.”
“There was always light – beyond the dark, and the fear, out of the depths; there was sun to reach for, and air and space and freedom. There was always a way up, and out, and no need to be afraid.”
“No matter what, he would always be hers, and they would always have this: a perfect day, a temporary reprieve from the cold.”
“I didn’t want to ruin the moment by explaining it to him, but suddenly it was like I had a zoomed-out view of this moment and I never, ever (ever) wanted it to end. I had Nutella on my face and my first real love sprawled out next to me and any minute the stars were going to sink back into the sky in preparation for a new day, and for the first time in a long time, I couldn’t wait for what that day would bring. And that was something.”
“For the two of us, home isn’t a place. It’s a person. And we’re finally home.”
“You’re the most incredible girl I’ve ever known. You’re gorgeous and smart, and you make me laugh like no one else can. And I can talk to you. And I know after all this I don’t deserve you, but what I’m trying to say is that I love you, Anna. Very much.”
“Why aren’t the two of you together?”
“We’ve missed our chance.”
“Anna. That is the dumbest I’ve ever heard.”
“But–“
“But what? You love him, he loves you, and you live in the most romantic city in the world.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Then let me put it another way. A gorgeous boy in in love with you, and you’re not even gonna try to make it work?”
With Smiles,
Ivy B. Lake
“Please, Anna. Please be my friend.”
“What’s so special about… Tagalongs?”
