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

by Ashley Manley

“Stop crying, Mom,” Lyra says as she hugs me, not understanding how it feels to watch a piece of herself go off on their own. To house parties where there will be boys and beer and bad ideas, praying they don’t fuck it all up. Praying they make the right choice. Hear the right voice in their ear guiding them. Praying they know what they need to know to make it in a world that’s so big and loud.

They are so ridiculous as they dance, yet so beautifully free. Untouched by the worries of the grown-up world. All that exists for them is possibility and hope and tonight.

“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?”

“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.”