Less Is Lost (Arthur Less #2)

by Andrew Sean Greer

Realizing we are no longer in love is not the heartbreaking sensation we imagine when we are in love—because it is no sensation at all.

How well he knows this route, and, after a few scratches, how easily the stylus falls into the vinyl groove of memory.

I said something like what you said, I said I didn’t want everything to change, I just wanted this one thing to change. My marriage. Zohra said”—and Rebecca clears her throat before channeling Zohra’s British accent—“‘Fuck that.’” Less sees his sister transform into his old straight-talking friend as she reads from her phone. “‘Fuck that. You don’t get that, Rebecca. This isn’t redecorating, this is house-on-fire shit. This is grabbing what to save. This is leaving shit behind. This is once-in-a-lifetime suffering and pain and heartache and yet it may be your only chance to decide what you really want. None of this I don’t want to change bullshit. Hell no—you’ve changed. That’s happened. Now what? Everything changes and this one fucking time, you’re in charge of it, my God, so choose! Make the wrong choice, that’s fine! That’s fine! But choose.’”