Nightwatching

by Tracy Sierra

“He was using the word ‘heartbreaker’ to mean ‘beautiful,’ ” she told her daughter, “because people want things that are beautiful, and are sad if they can’t have them. But no one is required to love someone else. No one’s entitled to your love or attention.”

After all, she was full of broken pieces that had mended. Even if they’d knit together at odd angles. Even if they were still tender. Unlike the old saying, her broken places hadn’t healed stronger. But so far they had always come together enough to allow her to function.