“But usually, I watched Linda read. I couldn't believe she'd read so much in summer! Sometimes she laughed, reading her book, and one time she even cried. I didn't know how anyone could make such a big deal about books.”

“I believed she'd gotten past ther hatred of me, turning to pity instead. But how could I make that into love?”

“I remember how Talia got me to talk about the gardening thing. I’ve never told anyone else about that, but with this girl, I sort of feel like I can be myself without worrying about looking uncool. After all, she doesn’t even know what “cool” is.”

“She wanted to leave. I loved her too much to make her stay.”

“People make such a big deal about looks, but after a while, when you know someone, you don´t even notice anymore...”

“Through her jacket, I could feel her heartbeat. It made me happy to know she was alive, was real, was there.”

“I love you, I thought. But I didn’t say it. It was not that I feared she would laugh in my face. She was far too kind for that. My fear was a greater one— that she won’t say it back.”