If He Had Been with Me

by Laura Nowlin

They never stop; they never wonder if they already have it all.

Sometimes I am disappointed with love. I thought that when you were in love, it would always be right there, staring you in the face, reminding you every moment that you love this person. It seems that it isn’t always like that.

the Spring Fling is cool because nobody goes.

Lmao

relationships are hard work. No one is perfect. There’s no such thing as happily ever after.

time always goes slower whenever you’re waiting for something,”

“Things aren’t always the way they’re supposed to be,”

Accept when things are as good as they’re ever going to get,

“I think we’re supposed to experience as much beauty as we can.”

sometimes sad things are beautiful,”

“Just because I think something different from you doesn’t make me weird.”

There is real life and then there are books.

I can feel the printed words seeping through my skin and into my veins, rushing to my heart and marking it forever. I want to savor this wonder, this happening of loving a book and reading it for the first time, because the first time is always the best, and I will never read this book for the first time ever again.

“Try to marry your first love. For the rest of your life, no one will ever treat you as well.”

Just because something seems impossible doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try.

“The more things change, the more they stay the same?”

And I know that winter is supposed to end, but things are not always the way they are supposed to be.

This is friendship, and it is love, but I already know what they have not learned yet; how dangerous friendship is, how damaging love can be.

Perhaps he would ask me what books mean to me. I would tell him that it means living another life;

It’s funny how things don’t turn out the way you thought they would.

He doesn’t laugh at me for ordering a hamburger and fries for breakfast. The waitress doesn’t frown either, and I file it away as further evidence that I’m not the only one. Finny orders bacon, eggs, and hash browns, just like you’re supposed to.

I love this lmao

being unhappy together is better than being unhappy apart.

“You’re funny and smart and weird. I never know what’s gonna come out of your mouth or what you’re gonna do. I love that. You. I love you.”