“Breathing is hard. When you cry so much, it makes you realize that breathing is hard.”

“elliptical, adj.The kiss I like the most is one of the slow ones. It’s as much breath as touch, as much no as yes. You lean in from the side, and I have to turn a little to make it happen.”

“It was after sex, when there was still heat and mostly breathing, when there was still touch and mostly thought... it was as if the whole world could be reduced to the sound of a single string being played, and the only thing this sound could make me think of was you.”

“It was so much easier when I didn't want anything. Not getting what you want can make you cruel.”

“Breathing, nYou had asthma as a child, had to carry around an inhaler. But when you grew older, it went away. You could run for miles and it was fine. Sometimes I worry that this is happening to me in reverse. The older I get, the more I lose my ability to breathe.”

“It's hard to answer a question you haven't been asked. It's hard to show you tried unless you end up succeeding.”

“It was so much easier when I don't want anything. Not getting want you want want can make you cruel.”