The Upside of Unrequited

by Becky Albertalli

I wish there were a secret signal you could use to communicate: HELLO. I AM OFFICIALLY COOL WITH SILENCE.

I am very, very tired right now. But it’s a good kind of tired—a sun-dappled, floating kind of tired. It is the most hazily lit movie dream of my entire dreaming career. I want to put this on pause. I want to stretch out this moment. I want to just exist inside of it.

Because that’s the thing about change. It’s so painfully normal. It’s the most basic of all tragedies.

“And tell him I have to talk to him.” I narrow my eyes. “About what?” “About how if he breaks your heart, I’ll castrate him. Just your basic protective sister shit.” She stands up, stretching. “Hold that thought. I’ve got to pee.”

when you spend so much time just intensely wanting something, and then you actually get the thing? It’s magic.”