sarah (slumping) 🍉’s Reviews > The Authenticity Project > Status Update

For all his idiosyncrasies and imperfections, he really was the most extraordinary person Monica had ever met.

Of all the cafés in all the world, she was terribly grateful he’d chosen hers.

“Well, if anyone can persuade the People’s Republic of China to change their policy, I’m sure it’s Mrs. Wu. Oh, it’s all so wonderful,” said Monica, realizing that, possibly for the first time, she was nothing but genuinely pleased to hear news of another wedding.

i KNEW they’d end up together!!!

And then, an uncomfortable realization: perhaps it was he who’d destroyed it—that luminescence.

oh my GOD??????

He forced his concentration back to the mindless chitchat about mutual acquaintances, soulless places, and pointless status symbols.

It feels like everyone has a piece of me except for myself.

“Excuse me. No dogs on seats. He’ll have to sit on the floor,” he said to Julian.
“He’s not a dog,” said Julian.
“What is he then?” asked the conductor.
“He’s my muse.”
“No muses on seats either,” replied the conductor.

Over the years, carpets, curtains, and furnishings, chosen by her mother for their availability and price rather than beauty, had combined to create a contrasting, clashing, riot of pattern and color.

All the festive televisual jollity had driven him back to bed with a cold tin of baked beans, a fork, and a bowlful of regrets.