Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1)

by Tahereh Mafi

Sometimes I think that if I stay very, very still, if I never move at all, things will change. I think if I freeze myself I can freeze the pain. Sometimes I won’t move for hours. I will not move an inch. If time stands still nothing can go wrong.

The world is flat. I know because I was tossed right off the edge and I’ve been trying to hold on for 17 years. I’ve been trying to climb back up for 17 years but it’s nearly impossible to beat gravity when no one is willing to give you a hand.

Every day it’s a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human. Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections.

I spent my life folded between the pages of books.

In the absence of human relationships I formed bonds with paper characters.

“God, Juliette, I’d follow you anywhere. You’re the only good thing left in this world.”

“Laughter comes from living.” I shrug, try to sound indifferent. “I’ve never really been alive before.”

My face is in his hands and my lips are at his lips and he’s kissing me and I’m oxygen and he’s dying to breathe.

The metal is a mangled mess. It looks like a wild animal attacked it and lost. “How did you—” “I don’t know,” I admit. Try to shrug, be indifferent. “I just punched it.” “You just punched it.” “And kicked it a little.”

“I shouldn’t have. You should have a choice. You should always have a choice. And it’s your choice if you want to be with me.”

“Don’t go,” he says. “Your touch is the only thing keeping me from losing my mind.”

“Hey, beautiful.” “I’m sorry I almost killed you,” I blurt out.