I love you, I thought. But I didn’t say it. It was not that I feared she would laugh in my face. She was far too kind for that. My fear was a greater one— that she won’t say it back.

True love would look a second time. True love would not be thwarted. True love would not accept no for an answer. He would search the world and certainly look again and again in every cottage until he finds you.

So I said, "I'll miss you. You are the truest friend I've ever had."I could see that my words were a knife in his gut. Yet, it seemed kinder than the alternative, for him to know I love him, but that I'm leaving anyway.

Money sure does fix things, doesn't it? Except for things that can't be fixed.Like broken hearts.

I try not to. I mean, you shouldn't miss people who don't miss you, right?