Sylvia

“Maybe you should say goodbye, Cal.'
'No.'
'It might be important.'
'It might make her die.”
― Jenny Downham, Before I Die

“It's all right, Tessa, you can go. We love you. You can go now.'
'Why are you saying that?'
'She might need permission to die, Cal.'
'I don't want her to. She doesn't have my permission.”
― Jenny Downham, Before I Die

“I love you. It hurts more than anything ever has, but I do. So don't you dare tell me I don't. Don't you ever say it again!”
― Jenny Downham, Before I Die

“We said we'd be friends.'

He looks confused. 'Yeah.'

I don't want to be.'

There's space between us, and in that space there's darkness. I take another step, so close that we share a breath. The same one. In and out.

Tess,' he says. I know it's a warning, but I don't care.

What's the worst thing that can happen?'

It'll hurt,' he says.

It already hurts.'

He nods very slowly. And it's like there's a hole in time, as if everything stops and in this one minute, where we look at each other so close, is spread out between us. As he leans towards me, I feel a strange warmth filtering through me. I forget that my brain is full of every sad face at every window I've ever passed.”
― Jenny Downham, Before I Die