“I look into his eyes, no longer afraid what's in them, but afriad I'll lose what they carry.”

“I let my head fall forward into his shoulder, breathing in his scent. "Now what do we do?"He's quiet for a while and I finally lean back to look him in the eyes. He appears conflicted by something and then he sets me down on the ground, lacing his fingers through mine."Should we see where the wind takes us?" he asks.I stare at my hand in his and then look up at him. "That sounds good to me.”

“The vertical lines that run down his forearms are the most disturbing, thick and jagged as if someone took a razor to his skin. I wish I could run my fingers along them and remove the pain and memories that are attached to them.”

“Okay, I'll take the pink one with the torn ear.'The guy behind the counter scratches his neck. "Are you being serious?"Her face is stoic. 'Absolutely. I never kid about teddy bears.”

“I take my time because I love how it feels to carry her, the way she needs me, the way I need to protect her.”

“You remember the word we said when we pressed our hands together, right?"I nodded. Forem. But what does it mean?""Forever,” he said his breath shaky. "It means we're bonded together forever.”

“I often wonder what drives people to do things. Whether it's put into their minds at birth, or if it is learned as they grow. Maybe it's even forced upon them by circumstances that are out of their hands. Does anyone have control over their lives or are we all helpless?”