This Is Where It Ends

by Marieke Nijkamp

Only dancing keeps me alive. It will free me. And I can’t let anything get in the way of that.

The only things that give us purpose are the stories that tie us together.

Terror is our strongest force because we’re only afraid when we have something to lose—our lives, our loves…our dignity.

“We’re more than our mistakes. We’re more than what people expect of us.

Dance is beauty. Dance is compassion, honesty. The only way I’ve ever known how to share my feelings is through dance.

Together, we’ll survive this. Together, we’ll be strong enough to face whatever comes our way. This is where it ends.

there were two types of people in this world: those who belong to the soil and the good, rich earth, planting their seeds to blossom, and those who

belong to the road and the endless horizons, carrying their home on their shoulders wherever they go.

Death brings life; life brings death.

how the sun can cut through the darkness but will cast shadows everywhere.

You can’t always settle your life in one place. The world was made to change. But as long as you cherish the memories and make new ones along on the way, no matter where you are, you’ll always be at home.”

We both understood high school as a period of friendship and choices and change—so much change.

high school is a lot. It’s like getting a bag full of puzzle pieces, but no one knows what the puzzle should look like or if the set is even complete.

Because even if we never reach understanding, we can keep trying. Even if we never find definitive answers, we can keep asking. Because questions are where conversations start. And questions are where stories start.