“The outside lights were on, and it was snowing, and it looked like magic. Like we were somewhere else. Like we were someplace better.”

“And later that night to be with my family at dinnertime and have things just be like they always were. That was the amazing part. Things just keep going. We didn't talk about anything heavy or light. We were just there together. And that was enough.”

“We didn't talk about anything heavy or light. We were just there together. And that was enough”

“I remembered this one time that I never told anybody about. The time we were walking. Just the three of us. I was in the middle. I don't remember where we were walking to or where we were walking from. I just remember the season. I just remember walking between them and feeling for the first time that I belonged somewhere”

“Downtown. Lights on buildings and everything that makes you wonder. And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.”

“And things were back to normal except we were just friends.”

“Despite everything my mom and doctor and dad have said tome about blame, I can't stop thinking what I know. And I knowthat my aunt Helen would still be alive today if she just bought meone present like everybody else. She would be alive if I were bornon a day that didn't snow.”