“I swear," he whispered, "my fingertips could sink right into you.”

“She sketched this moment into her mind, because nothing could be so perfect. Nothing could stay right, and last.”

“I took a gamble on her, thinking that my gut was right, that I had finally met someone that would always hold my attention. But she knocked me off my fucking feet.”

“My body is between his spread legs. Even though he’s silent, his chest rises and falls like he has just stopped running. I know he wants me. I shut my brain down, ignore what a mistake this is, and lean forward and kiss the side of his neck. He jumps slightly and I lick his skin. I hear him groan and move my lips upward. A kiss cannot replace the past. But with every kiss to his skin, my hurt becomes a distant memory.”

“Instantly, I step forward. “Why are you mad?” I cry out. “Why wouldn’t I be, Emilia? I open up my fucking soul to you, and you blew it to pieces.”

“You can’t heal a heart that’s been fragmented. But my wounds were closing. Stitch by stitch, I was starting to feel again. I can’t undo the past and stop everything that has happened. However, I can try to take a tiny step forward.”

“Severine was a greedy, selfish person. She wanted everything. Right now, sitting here with Thayer, she wanted to keep this moment forever. Nothing gave her the right to desire it so much.”