Forever and Back (Life on the Ledge Duet, #1)

by Ashley Manley

We always do something until we don’t. We are who we are until we change. Life erodes us like the waters that formed this lake until we are a completely different shape. One day we hike together, the next we’re strangers.

He scoffs. “It’s my fault now?” Even though he asks, we both know any response is moot. It will lead to an argument with no winner, only proving my point. This. This is why we can’t be married. He doesn’t see the whole picture. I’ve pushed him away . . . because he lets me. I’ve shut down . . . because he doesn’t show up. I’m done because he stopped long before this.

For every person sacrificing, there’s someone that isn’t, that never will.

There’s no one way to have a happy life.

“People tell you about potty training and sleepless nights, but they don’t tell you how fucking hard being a mom is.”

“About the slow drain that happens if you aren’t careful. How you exchange who you are for a different version of yourself without even knowing. Somewhere between dinners and homework and car lines, you forget yourself. And, somehow, despite how hard and thankless it all feels, when you lie in bed at night, you still worry. You still wonder, did I do good enough today? Did I love these little people enough? Encourage them to be nice people and treat others fairly? Do they know how valuable they are? How much I love them?”

“it always takes two people to get to where you are.”

we’re flawed people loving other flawed people. It’s all work, never easy. None of us knowing how to do it right.”

“Thank you, for showing me that not all heroes wear capes. That the real superstars don’t always win awards and get name recognition. Some are just there, loving everyone around them and taking care of the little details that nobody else wants to. The sole reason that others can shine like stars is because people like you create a sky for us to shine in.”