Michael Grothaus

“But fearing something and having it come to pass are two different things. And I'm willing to bet most of what we fear will never happen, or we can take steps to change it.”
― Michael Grothaus, Beautiful Shining People

“In the renewed silence, the girl studies me as if I’m some kind of still life. And then, though her lips remain perfectly neutral, I can’t help but think I notice her smile. It’s because of how her eyelids shift. Their edges curve downward ever so slightly, like tiny crescent moons.”
― Michael Grothaus, Beautiful Shining People

“It occurred to me how clear-headed I felt. The fog of jet lag had finally lifted. I thought of the girl from the café. Her sleeveless denim dress and her clear, blue-grey eyes. I suppose I had her to thank for my slumber.”
― Michael Grothaus, Beautiful Shining People

“And as soon as she says this, it’s as if a dark shadow has descended across her face. She won’t look at me, and the shine in her eyes has been blown away. Now, they’re as cloudy as the sky before a storm. It’s astonishing really, the change in her demeanour. If I was seeing her for the first time, I’d be sure I was looking at a girl who’s never once laughed or smiled. Matter of fact, I’d be certain she wasn’t capable of it.”
― Michael Grothaus, Beautiful Shining People