“Let me clarify something for you, Damon. There is the simplepresent tense, which is used to describe things that take place in thepresent, simple past tense that describes things that occurred in thepast. And then there is the tense that is used to describe the chancessomething has to happening. You should know about it, you justused it. It is called the simply impossible tense.”

“I thought that lying to yourself is a simply impossible thing but youwouldn’t believe how easy it is when every part of your mind wantsto believe.”

“A true friend is the one who knowseverything about you and still loves you. Eventually, people will forget the things you said or did, but the feelingsyou woke up in them they will never forget!”

“You see, I don’t know why I did it,” he declared as if he hadjust discovered the cure for cancer. But the only thing he haddiscovered was yet another way to piss me off.”

“OK, that is better. I want to talk seriously,” he said anxiously.“I…you see…well….it’s just…”“Wow, Damon, slow down. I didn’t prepare myself for suchan intellectual conversation,” I interrupted, still looking at the gymguy. I smiled to him and he smiled back. Out of the corner of myeye, I noticed Damon didn’t like that at all.”

“Listen, Elena, after high school I left and I had a lot ofrelationships and nothing seemed right to me. But I rememberedyou often. You can say that we were kids back then and that thatwas kids’ stuff... and maybe it was. But now, when I am not a childanymore, there isn’t a doubt in me that it simply has to be you or noone else. I don’t want you to be the one that got away, at least notwithout a fight.”

“I know you will do what your heart tells you,” he addedquietly.And I did. Not what my head was whispering, but what myheart was shouting. I put my arms around his neck pulling himcloser.”