“If I couldn’t name it, would I even know what it is? Would I even feel it at all?”

“Thank you," I tell Xander. "I didn't get anything for you -""It's all right," he says, "but maybe - you could -"He looks into my eyes and I know what he wants. A kiss. Even thought he knows about Ky. Xander and I are still connected; this is still good-bye. I know already that that kiss would be sweet. It would be what he would hold on to, as I hold on to Ky's.But that's something I don't think I can give. "Xander -""It's all right," he was, and then he stands up. I do too, and he reaches for me, pulls me close.”

“My mother looks at me with love and understanding, and I realize: she knows what my father did. She knows what I want. She knows and even though she would not destroy a tissue sample or love someone who is not her Match, she still loves us, even though we have done those things.”

“If I could find one, I would cover the bark with her name the way I used to cover her hand with mine on the Hill.”

“I think how this is always the way he is, giving me something even when most would think there was nothing left to do but let go”

“I never named anything I've written beforeno reason tosinceit would all have the same title anyway-for you-but I would call this oneone nightthat nightwhen we let the world be only youand only mewe stood on it while it spungreen and blue and redthe music endedbut wewere stillsinging”

“We do not kiss. We do nothing but hold on and breathe, but still I know. I cannot go gently now. Not even for the sake of my parents, my family.Not even for Xander.”