Darling Venom

by Parker S. Huntington

Adolescent love is the greatest pain of all. It teaches you the power other people have to destroy you.

Here’s a life lesson I’d never wanted to learn. Our secrets are nothing but a string of memories we wish to forget.

I realized, with depressing clarity, that she wasn’t the venom at all. She was the antidote. But the quantities were all off.

Suicide is a war of two fears—fear of death and fear of the thing that pushes you toward it. The stronger side always wins. And if you lose, the penalty is death.

“Pain is growth. Fear is risk. You can’t be happy if you’re not growing and taking risks.”

“You’re breathing, Charlie. You are breathing, and it is beautiful, and I am so grateful for that.”