The Dinner List

by Rebecca Serle

it’s easier to see the beginnings of things, and harder to see the ends.

The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.

Life is growth. If we stop growing, we are as good as dead.

“You cannot have good without evil,” Audrey says. “They are like DNA strands. Intricately and irrevocably spun together. Sometimes good wins, sometimes evil does. We do not fight for good’s permanent triumph, but for the balance. And so it goes.”

Five words to describe your life right now, right this minute.

I love Brooklyn, but sometimes I wonder if this is the best version of my life.”

Tobias has always been a flower.” Jessica has this theory that people in relationships are either flowers or gardeners. Two flowers shouldn’t partner; they need someone to support them, to help them grow.

Kindness before honesty. We are taught that honesty is the most important quality. Tell the truth. Do not lie. Etc. But there are so many instances when honesty isn’t kind. When the kinder thing to do is to keep what you have to say to yourself. Tobias didn’t understand that. He told me everything. Eventually, so did I. But as the honesty grew, so did the cruelty. Sometimes I thought we were being honest just to see how deep we could cut.

I had a key after month two, which had more to do with efficiency than romance or commitment.

We ate on the living room floor because we didn’t have a table, and because there was something romantic about being young and broke and in love. And when you’re young and broke and in love you eat lasagna on the floor.

“So you loved each other too much,” Robert says. “Is that possible? If you love, is there even such a thing as a yardstick?”

This was New York. A baby before thirty was a cause for concern, not celebration.

“You wanted what people want. You wanted to get married. You wanted to know you could pay the rent. You wanted someone who showed up. That wasn’t a crime. It still isn’t.”