“Jared. I have a past" I almost whispered "Who doesn-" I interrupted him"Please just let me speak and then you can tell me what it is you want." He nodded and l continued. I hated this. I hadn't told people. But he could find out and he would; I had to tell him.”

“You can't touch me," I whisper. I'm lying, is what I don't tell him. He can touch me, is what I'll never tell him. Please touch me, is what I want to tell him.”

“Then, if you love him," he said quietly, "please, Tessa, don't tell him what I just told you. Don't tell him that I love you.”

“I told him about how Cole wanted me to return with him.I told him almost everything. I didn't talk about what had happened just before I left with Cole and I didn't tell him that the Tunnels of the Everneath were coming for me soon. Jack would freak out if he knew I was leaving again, and I didn't want to waste time trying to convince him it was hopeless.I didn't tell him I'd thought of him every day. That even when every other memory had faded,he never left.”

“I couldn't save Kataoka."If I loved him, I had to grant him his last wish."So I told him what he wanted to hear."I said, 'No, you're no longer human.'"I hadn't been able to say anything.I couldn't speak, I couldn't move, I couldn't understand a word of what Miu was telling me."Kataoka smiled kindly."Like he was thanking me."Then he jumped off the roof."Osamu Dazai and I killed him.”

“I tell him I take anti-depressants, which leads him on a thirty-minute detour. He tells me sadness is a part of finding out who you are. I tell him getting out of bed is also a part of finding out who you are. We agree to disagree.”