The Upside of Unrequited

by Becky Albertalli

So, maybe I should let my heart break, just to prove that my heart can take it. Or at the very least, I need to stop being so fucking careful.

It’s that feeling of someone knowing you in all the ways you needed to be known.

“I mean, I know you’re not supposed to eat them raw, but what if they’re mixed in with stuff?” I side-eye him hard. “You know they’re still raw, right?” “I know, but they’re neutralized by the other ingredients.” “That is not how eggs work.” I bite back a smile.

Netflix means not having to suck in your stomach or think of anything smart or adorable to say. It means a whole night of not wondering what people think about you. No alcohol, and no flirtation, and no confusion, and every organ calm and settled.

“Change is fucking hard. It’s fucking tragic.”