Layla

by Colleen Hoover

no matter how beautiful she was, her insecurity was the loudest thing about her.

It’s better to be a selfless somebody than to be a selfish nobody.”

“The womb is one existence. As a fetus, we didn’t remember life before the womb, and we had no idea if there would be life after the womb. All we knew was the womb. But then we were born, and we left the womb and came into our current realm of existence. And now we can’t remember being in the womb before this life, and we have no idea what comes after this life. And when our current life ends, we’ll be in a different realm altogether, where we might not remember this realm of existence, just like we don’t recall being in the womb. It’s just different realms. One after the other after the other. Some we know for a fact exist. Some we only believe exist.

There could be realms of existence we’ve never even entertained the idea of. They could be endless. I don’t think we ever really die.”

I can’t be the Band-Aid for her wounds. I need to be what helps them heal.

She’s capable. She’s strong. She’s incredible. And I’m going to be the one to remind her of that, because she seems to have forgotten.

Every single second with her felt like an awakening. Like I’d never really opened my eyes until she came along. I was blind but now I see.

Is that all Layla was to me? Part of an endless cycle of relationships? I thought for sure she was the one. I felt it in my bones. Now all I feel is remorse, because it wasn’t until ten seconds ago that I realized I’ve already moved on to another cycle.

Falling in love with her was weightless, like air was breezing through my bones. Falling out of love is fucking heavy, like my lungs are carved from iron.

Perhaps what we desire can sometimes be so strong it overpowers our fate.”