For a flicker of a moment our gazes held, sweet and tormented.

He pulled me gently to my feet, but the moment left my head spinning anyway.

My brain was so noisy and opinionated that it drowned out my heart.

Can you tell me how a meltdown feels?”She tilted her head to stare at the ceiling. “Itchy. And bad. You get so mad at yourself, because you know the thing that set you off isn’t worth the reaction you’re having, but you can’t control it. It’s like . . . knocking over a cup of tea. It goes everywhere, staining as it spreads, but you can’t take it back. You just have to get over yourself and mop up the mess.

Neither of us fit in, so instead we fit together.