A Beautiful Poison

by Lydia Kang

She had the sort of beauty that left you bleeding internally after gazing for too long.

“It’s the radium dust,” Birdie whispered. “We paint it onto the watch dials at the clock factory, so our boys can see them in the dark trenches. I get covered with it after a day’s work.”

NOOOOOO

In a photo, he’d be considered handsome, but in reality, he oozed a milk-and-water personality.

Oof. Poor guy

“The dead won’t make me swoon and neither will you, Mr. Jones.” “Pity,” Jasper said.

But a funeral reminds you to be alive, doesn’t it? It slaps you across the face and points out that there’s still warm blood doing a jig in your veins.” Jasper’s hand fell to Birdie’s pale forearm, and he put his two fingers on her wrist, where her pulse was. It was a clinical gesture, cold, if not for the warmth of his fingertips. Oh, she was alive all right. Stubbornly living, despite everything.

Nature was fierce in her efforts to cover the dead with life, rooting them down without mercy and preventing them from haunting the living.

“You know, Birdie, you really are one of the most beautiful orphans I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

so i get this is him trying to cheer her up in his own jasper way but jesus christ. Jasper my guy, this was not the vibe.

“Yes,” she replied. She swelled her breath. “I am lovely. And tragic. But the truth is, Jasper Jones, it’s terribly inconvenient to be me, and somehow I doubt you tolerate inconveniences in your life.” She opened her eyes and stared at Jasper. “And one more thing. You’re a young man, and there’s a war across the ocean ready to eat you alive any day now. Don’t you dare make promises to my sister you can’t keep. Lie to me all you want. I’m used to it. But not to Holly. Never to Holly.” Jasper was speechless.

Damn birdie go off queen.

“So many questions,” he said, snapping the tin closed. “And not one about me.”

Andrew is one big eyeroll i cant stand this guy

“Why are you asking about them? I’m right here.”

Uuuuuugggggggghhhhhhhh

“Yes. I put it there. And yes, I killed Hazel and your drunk uncle.”

I knew it. I mean it was obvious but still.

“And you know what? It’s a relief. To be nothing but me, and not this idea of me I wanted.”

It was the night Holly had been conceived.

The gasp i just gusped

“You’re welcome,”

!!!!!!!

“Us,” he murmured.

I did not see this coming

Somewhere in the world at that moment, there was a birth, a death, a sunrise, and a sunset. There was despair, and a burst of laughter, a promise broken, and a vow made. And there was this kiss. It was far from disappointing.