This is how you know somebody loves you. When you can’t tie your own shoes and they don’t mind tying them for you.

Hope for the best,” I said. “Prepare for the worst.

It struck me as kind of crazy, kind of amazing, that one person could make me feel so serene just by being.

I want you. I want you so much. I think I want you more than anything and that scares me, sometimes.

I kissed him like he was air and I couldn’t breathe.

We take it for granted that our parents are like trees. They never run out of boughs for us to pick fruit from. The thing is, if you pick a fruit when it’s not ready, it grows back slower the next season. The more you do this, the less fruit you’ll get. Keep it up, and in the end you’ll have a fat belly and a barren tree.

If we can die at any minute," I said, "why are you wasting your life dreading it? Why don't you just live while you have the chance?

Rafael relaxed. "There's this dove that visits my house," he said. "She molts all the time, especially in late summer. I pick up the feathers on the ground and keep them. It's--" He stopped, considering himself, but went on. "Doves are among the only birds that produce milk for their young. So they're...they represent mothers

He swore loudly, confused. I won't repeat the word here. I'm a gentleman.

I liked Rafael. I liked listening to Rafael. I liked touching him. I liked it when he took me in his arms and made me feel like I belonged to him, like our hearts ran together as one, indistinct. Rafael was beautiful. Rafael was my heart's friend. I didn't understand how that meant I liked boys. As far as I knew, it only meant I liked Rafael.More than liked Rafael.