The Perks of Being a Wallflower

by Stephen Chbosky

I just wanted to make you smile.

“Charlie, we accept the love we think we deserve.”

But because things change. And friends leave. And life doesn’t stop for anybody.

We didn’t do anything other than kiss. And we didn’t even do that for very long. After a while, his eyes lost the glazey numb look from the wine or the coffee or the fact that he had stayed up the night before. Then, he started crying. Then, he started talking about Brad. And I just let him. Because that’s what friends are for.

And I guess I realized at that moment that I really did love her. Because there was nothing to gain, and that didn’t matter.