Jessica Fortunato

“He held up his hands in surrender. “I’m not here to start trouble. I am just doing some research for my thesis.”“If you don’t get out of this bar, you are going to be writing your thesis via Ouija board.”

“Eventually the Collector from the prophecy would be born.”

“There are no saints either. We are immortal, but not so unlike the humans as you think. We have enemies, we have duties, we hate, we struggle, and we love.”

“You think me noble?” She rolled to her side facing him. “Am I saint-like? Do I slay dragons and hang the moon as well?”

“What kind of person would I be if I didn’t fight for them, those who God deemed most precious?”

“Thomas looked around and tried not to let his duty turn him bitter. These were good men, and he would not leave them behind. He had chosen this, an unselfish life.”

“Cricket’s voice broke through Thomas’s memory. He was reading a letter, most likely from his mother. He was trying hard to hide it, but he was tearing up. “Captain I don’t want to be here,” was all he could choke out. Thomas reached over and gave Cricket’s shoulder a tight squeeze.”

“He took her hand without question, without fear, and he never regretted it.”

“Death was constant, unprejudiced to age, race, or creed.”

“The Castus had become a myth to most, a shadow, but Thomas knew that every rumor was rooted in truth.”

“You cannot have a best friend for one hundred and fifty four years without trust.”

“God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.~Ecclesiastes 3:17”

“I put my hand on my chest, a habit I never quite shook after losing my heart.”

“This is ridiculous! I am going to look like I just hopped out of the hooker version of Alice in Wonderland.”

“What if he can't save me? What if trying destroys us both?”

“You can't know how much a mother loves.”

“Living on steam isn't easy.”

“The Bibbidi Bobbidi Beautiful boutique, the name filled me with dread.”

“The only time you ever really lose love is when you choose to let it go.”

“Love is a fairytale blah, blah, blah.”

“He reminded me of one of those adventure seekers on TV. He hadn’t shaved in a few days at least, and his reddish hair was suffering from intense bed head. His Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts completed the look. I was inclined to ask him if he knew we were all marked for death or if he just thought he was taking a long cruise.”

“I jumped between them holding my hands up in front of me to stop the onslaught. We would all sit down and figure this out as rational adults. We’d been adults for a century at least, and it should not be a problem. It appeared to be a problem.”

“Your cell phone is on the nightstand. Call me immediately if something changes. I don’t care if you are merely dizzy or if you start seeing pink dragons, do you understand?” I solemnly swear I will call you the second a pink dragon shows up.”

“I was about to run, possibly fight, definitely scream...”

“I was really putting a lot of pressure on this beer prop; it was going to distract me enough so that I didn’t run around screaming like a lunatic on fire.”

“To call it helmet hair was an insult to my helmet.”

“Once Upon A Time” I began. We made it through three stories before she was in a deep sleep. In the end, she probably didn’t have a better grasp on our legal system, racism, or social complexity. However, she now knew that sometimes the most loyal friend you could have was a mouse, that sometimes people weren’t always who they seemed, even if their eyes were allegedly only bigger to see you with, and that everyone had the capacity to live happily ever after. It wasn’t in her lesson plan, and maybe it wasn’t all true, but it was important.”

“Truth was, I didn't really want to die today. I was in the middle of a really good book, and being alive had always worked out for me. . .”