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It wasn’t fair that talent didn’t equate success, that some wildly popular authors weren’t the best at their craft, whereas some gifted novelists sold, like, two copies of their book. To their parents.
“Imagine someone just came up with the idea of reading. Like, ‘Hey, let’s launch a product with no pictures, just words and letters. To enjoy it, you have to sit in one place and stare at it for hours, and then the whole story will slowly unfold just to you inside your brain. It might take you months to find out what happens in the end. It’s a completely solitary endeavor and you can’t do anything else at the same time. Oh, and you need to purchase it up front, hoping you’ll like it. But if you don’t, there’s no refund. Sorry! And there are literally millions of other products that look
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That’s what books are supposed to do: connect readers to authors. Readers to each other. That’s why book clubs are so popular! It’s like that mural on Montana: ‘Stories are best when shared.’”
“That was before I met you and you stole my attention,” he said, laughing.
Loss is not just what’s gone in the present but all of the future plans.
Life falls apart slowly. And just as slowly, we piece it together again. One itty bit at a time. Steps forward. Names changed. New loves discovered. New homes built. Slowly, unsteadily, shakily, and yet, eventually, solidly rebuilt.
Marriage is a mix. Some days are warm, easy, loving. Other days you want to strangle the person because they’ve taken five minutes too long in the shower. But at the base of it all is trust, respect, affection, kindness. “The real trick is being with someone who brings out the best in you, who sees you—well, not in the way my old boss, Michael, saw me; that’s a story for another time—and makes you the best version of yourself. Someone who makes you feel safe so you can take risks, explore new places, conquer new challenges. That’s what’s important. And that’s not anything you can find in a
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“I’d say don’t settle, Zoe. If you feel like you’re being silenced or taken advantage of or abused or anything, press the escape hatch. And then call me so I can beat the person up. I think that for every asshole out there, there are ten nice people. Life is short. But if you’re with the wrong person, boy, can it feel long.”
“Look for kindness,” Josh went on. “Search for those moments of connection where you feel like you’ve known someone forever even though you’ve just met them. And be patient.”
“I think you’re a good idea,” he said as we snuggled.