Beautiful Graves

by L.J. Shen

The girl hasn’t met a book she didn’t want to read,

“What if I’m not fucking awesome?” “You are,” he says, sure as the morning sun. “If you were mediocre, you wouldn’t be running circles in my head.”

“This is heaven. This is worthy of death.”

It’s a terrible existence. To feel like you’re not worthy of good things happening in your life.”

He knows better than anyone how fragile life is.

“Don’t expect the world to be fair. It’s a lost battle.

Because what’s one night in an ocean of days in your life?

“Because I’m not used to being happy. To celebrating holidays. To . . .” “Living?”

Ignorance is bliss is the Antichrist of knowledge is power, which was what he told me the night we were together.

Ever: It’s going to hurt. Joe: We’re no strangers to pain.

Ever: God. I’m already regretting this. Joe: Regrets make good stories.

Mainstream people aren’t revolutionary. Nothing good ever comes out of them. Average equals comfort.

“I loved you, Ever Lawson. But I want you to know, you’re the worst thing that’s ever fucking happened to me.”

“Humans have a weird fascination with death.

And so I didn’t. Didn’t dare to live, to move on, to forgive myself for what happened.

“As long as you have breath in you, no one else stands a chance.”

“It’s hard to forgive people. Including yourself.”

‘Be thankful to those who helped you when you were down, and be thankful to those who didn’t. The former are worth keeping, and the latter helped you realize it.’”

“Baby steps are the best steps. We learn a lot from them,”

“I’m scared to make a choice.” My voice cracks as I round the car into my neighborhood. “You know what’s scarier?” she asks. “Not making one at all.”

“Life’s too short. Way too short. If you love Seph . . . if Seph loves you . . .”

But see, forgiving people who hurt us is not about those people at all. It is about choosing to move on with our lives. Letting go of the grudges. Healing without depending on someone else’s journey.