The Rule Book

by Sarah Adams

I’m not over him, and I’m scared I never will be.

But dammit, I do. Because this is Nora. My Nora. And this is why I told myself not to look in her eyes, because then I’ll see everything we once were reflected in them. I’ll see that she’s more gut-wrenchingly beautiful than ever, and no matter what she does or where she goes, in my heart she’ll always be mine. And I hate her for it.

Maybe one day it won’t feel like such a struggle to simply exist as a woman in my field, but today is not that day.

Because when a man doesn’t encourage you to reach for the stars, Nora Bug, he’s putting you in a glass jar to contain your light. We don’t have to settle for air through holes poked in the top of a lid. We get to become stars ourselves

My mom taught me early on that I would never be everyone’s cup of tea, but that doesn’t mean I should change my flavor for anyone either.

You were mine once.

I have to fight with everything in me to not smile when she banters at me. To not wrap her in my arms every time she’s within reach.

Don’t let her smile fool you, she’s covered in yellow daisies but she’s dangerous as hell.

“Get your own drink, you unromantic piece of shit.”

LMFAO

did you know if you drink enough coffee, you can hear the color purple?”

Buckle up, Nora, you’re going on a honeymoon with your ex.

!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes I wonder, if I stay quiet, will she continue to talk the whole night?

Me af

“Speak to her like that again and find out what happens.”

I want to take Nora’s hips in my hands and pin her back against this hotel door, and kiss her until our mouths are bruised.

There’s only one bed.

YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

I’m a blabbermouth with nothing important to say.

Lmfao

Some people use fidget spinners to distract their fingers from anxiety. I use work. Work is good. Work is where I go when I feel unsure in the world because for me, work is an equation that has a clear answer every single time. Plus, I’m good at what I do.

“I’m not sure if you’ve noticed or not, but there’s a big elephant in the room.” He moves to perch on the edge of the bed. “Of course I’ve noticed. She’s bedazzled herself and is shooting off fireworks. Frankly, that elephant is an attention hog.”

forgot what it’s like to have someone around who knows me. Or I guess…who knows me and doesn’t think my oddities are over-the-top. Sometimes I get so exhausted from putting in all the effort to know someone only for them to decide I’m not worth it and ditch me.

opinions are not fact. As my mom always said, opinions only become truth if you accept them as such.

Holy Mother of Harry Styles.

The implication fires up a corner of me that rages for any woman who’s ever been told she’s lucky to have had a chance with a good guy. Like that is our primary goal in life and once found, he should be her end-all-be-all until he’s finished with her.

There was more than enough room, Rose!

it stung so bad to realize how easily you moved on from me. How easily replaceable I was.”

have cellulite and I don’t want it edited out. If you’re going to put my body in a magazine, I want it to be mine. I want women to see it and see themselves in the photo too.”

Love your body—it works hard for you every day of your life.

What if nothing bad happens? What if…it’s just wonderful?

wanted her. Still want her. Will likely spend forever wanting her. But not just in a physical sense. I want her as my best friend, my favorite person to talk to, the one who I walk with through every good and bad season.

Feminism, my love, is about uplifting women and fighting for our rights to equality and choice.

She’s mine.

Everything about her is perfect.

There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Nora.”

He looks at me as if he’s devouring me little by little. God help me, I want him to.

“I only lost because I want to show you in a physical way that I’m intentionally and completely vulnerable to you, Nora. That I’ll gladly lose to you every day of my life—because for me, the prize is just being near you.”

“My favorite color is hazel.”

“I’m at your feet, Nora. If you want me, I’m yours.”

“I don’t want to rush. Tonight I just want to savor you.”