Every Last Word

by Tamara Ireland Stone

Mistakes are how we learned to walk and run and that hot things burn when you touch them. You’ve made mistakes all your life and you’re going to keep making them.”

“Every last word.”

I like to know where I stand with people, and I figure I owe them the same courtesy.

I’m never rude or hurtful about it, but I don’t see any reason to be fake. That’s a lot of work.”

She lost it, but at least she had it.

I told her that her blush was too heavy and she looked like a mime.” “Well, if she looked like a mime, it makes perfect sense that she’s not speaking to you,”

“I didn’t go there looking for you. I went looking for me.” My voice is soft, low, and shaky. “But now, here you are, and somehow, in finding you, I think I’ve found myself.”

“I like you too much.” He kisses me again, harder this time. “Good,” he whispers. “I like you too much, too.”

“Everyone’s got something. Some people are just better actors than others.”

You start being kind to yourself, making decisions that are best for you, not best for everyone else. You look around at the people in your life, one by one, choosing to hold on to the ones who make you stronger and better, and letting go of the ones who don’t.

“Every Last Word.”