How to Love Your Neighbor

by Sophie Sullivan

Harlow Beach was probably her favorite place on earth.

There was always a silver lining.

the scent of success.” She pushed off the fence. “Everyone has a different definition of that word.

Grace Travis did well at anything she put her mind to.

What the hell was it going to take to make him feel good enough?

“You’re such an ass.” “Takes one to know one.”

We talked about that, judging people at first glance.”

Nothing you can do about what people say or think except be yourself and walk away from anyone who doesn’t like it.”

He was just a guy who loved what he was doing.

When his grandfather had smiled at him like he believed Noah could change the world.

“You’re like a daughter to me. Family isn’t what you were born with.

It’s what you want it to be. You and Tilly are my family.

Moving into her grandparents’ house was supposed to make her feel like she belonged, but maybe she didn’t need a building to do that. Maybe she just had to let herself accept that it was a feeling. Not a place.

One day, you’ll marry someone who has a family and you’ll be part of that one.

Family is what you want it to be.

“It’s a choice, man. We choose who we end up being. Good or bad,

He may have laid the groundwork but we’re paving our own path.”

He needed to focus. To figure out what he truly wanted.

You need to trust yourself. Trust your feelings even if they surprise you.

I want something to matter. Like that rec center did. Like this house does.”

He was choosing to shift his priorities.

That someone else, whoever he ended up being, would be her equal.

“You ever feel like life leads you where you’re supposed to be, even if you don’t know why?”

“You’ve found the one.”

“Do you even want to be anyone’s ‘the one’?”

I do want to find the one. But not yet. Not until I’m entirely sure of who I am.

When it didn’t work for you, you got out, looked for something more fulfilling. Meaningful.

You’re willing to try, adapt, and change.

“We need to stop trying to prove ourselves to people that aren’t even paying attention.”

It was always fun in the beginning. How did a couple avoid being just another statistic?

Noah couldn’t stand the thought of loving a woman enough to tie himself to her, only to have it fall apart.

She’d just focus on right now. One day—one minute—at a time. Even losing, she felt like a winner.

“There’s something special between us. There’re so many great things coming up for both of us. Let’s jump. We’ll see where we land.”

Stop overanalyzing everything. Just enjoy. You’re allowed to have all of this.

“Sometimes we let how other people see us color how we see ourselves.”

I’m working on making choices I want for myself rather than to make someone else happy.”

“Art is not what you see, it’s what you make others see.”

This is different. You’re going in with your eyes wide open. Said every person who had their heart broken.

“Tell me something you’ve never told anyone.”

At their core, both of them were pleasers trying to outrun the shadows of their parents.

“There are no guarantees in life. Just chances to jump at happiness when it’s offered.”

We can see each other at our worst, build each other back up, and most important, rely on each other for anything.

You’re not alone. Asking for help doesn’t make you weak.

Picking up the pieces for someone you care about and letting them do the same for you is a sign of strength.

Unless you accept help from people who love you.

“Life doesn’t always give you what you deserve.

Of your own making. If you don’t like how things are, change them.

Emotions swirled around like ballerinas.

“We’ll teach each other. We’ll learn. We’ll mess up. We’ll fix it. But we’ll do it together.”

Wherever you are, that’s where I’ll be.”