55 Quotes & Sayings By Rachel Van Dyken

The nurse smiled and patted my arm. “Don’t give up yet. Sometimes when we think God has written The End, what he really means is The Beginning. Rachel Van Dyken

God…” I choked on the word. “I know we haven’t talked much in the past few years. Hell, I told you I hated you when Tye took his own life.” I cursed again and pinched the bridge of my nose. “I don’t even care about myself anymore, just promise me she’ll be okay. If I don’t make it… if you take me, just let Kiersten be okay. She can’t go down that road – I don’t care if you have to punish me, God. If she’s going to suffer, give me her pain instead. If her heart’s going to break, break mine for hers. Please, God… please. Rachel Van Dyken

Time was the most precious thing in the world to me, and I’d just given her all of it. Because I was falling for her. Because I cared for her. Because I wanted to give her something to remember me by, even if it would eventually fade like its namesake. Time… what an absolute horror-inducing word Rachel Van Dyken

You push forward, you fight the demons, you keep moving. Fear tries to paralyze you, to keep you from moving. It stops success, it stops progress - when you do things afraid, you're still accomplishing your goals, only you're doing it knowing that you are truly conquering the Everest in your life. Rachel Van Dyken

Sometimes I wonder if we ever truly let anyone completely in. The desire for another human being to know you, all of you, all the pieces, even the ones you’re ashamed of – is huge. But too often, we sit down and sort through the pieces only picking out the pretty ones, leaving the ugly ones behind, not realizing that choosing not to share with someone else is like committing a crime against our very soul . Rachel Van Dyken

The thing about second chances", Mom interrupted, laying a hand on my arm "is we always walk into them assuming we'll feel better, when nine times out of ten things get worse before the ever get better. Rachel Van Dyken

What do you love more?” she teased. “My hair or my heart?” “Why give me only two choices? Don’t leave out your legs, your laugh, the way you bite your lip when you’re thinking, the feel of your breath on my face, the sound of your voice in the morning, the way you taste, the three freckles on your nose, the fan of your eyelashes, the caring spirit, the determined soul – so why stop at your hair and your heart? How do you expect me to choose? When what I love the most about you – is you. Rachel Van Dyken

Because my weakness has always been her, it would always be her. Rachel Van Dyken

When I met you – somehow you healed me. From the inside out, the outside in. We conquered fears together, we learned, we laughed, and we loved. I swear, you caused my heart to soar more in the past few months than it has in my entire existence. My heart is whole because you chose to share yours with me, and it’s for that reason that I get down on not one, but both knees…” I knelt in front of her and gripped her hand. “And say thank you. Thank you for saving my life, thank you for loving me enough to treasure your own, and thank you for being my strength when I had none. I’d like to think our hearts are joined – forever entwined – but considering that’s not technically a legal joining, I have a question for you Marry me? Make me the happiest man alive.” I opened the box revealing my mom’s ring. Rachel Van Dyken

Everyone wears masks. They come in all different shapes and sizes. The only problem with trying one on is that it fits. How easily we fall into the trap that we don’t have to be who we really are. How easily we convince ourselves that we need to cover up what we were born to be. It’s a tragedy that fear keeps us from our destiny. It’s hell when the person you were created to be is covered up by some cheap imposter. Rachel Van Dyken

How often do you think we write our own ending before the story is even finished? How often do we give up on ourselves when our lives are just starting? Things get hard and we immediately back away and assume that means we're going in the wrong direction, doing the wrong thing. If anything, when the waters get thick, that's our sign to keep going Rachel Van Dyken

For as long as it takes for the sorrow and pain to transfer into acceptance. I’ll stay here. With you. By your side. I won’t leave.”“ Promise?”“ Vow.” I placed his hands gently on the piano. “I vow. Rachel Van Dyken

Watching someone you love… die? There are no words for how broken that makes a person. It’s like waking up from a bad dream only to find out that it’s you reality, it’s like watching sunlight fade from the sky, like watching death suck the one you love dry, and being powerless to stop it. You may as well try to stop the waves from rolling in, or the sun from rising. In the end, the waves will roll, the sun will set, and death will come. The only thing you have a choice in? How you deal with it…when it does. Rachel Van Dyken

I think is sad, how easily we throw around the word without actually understanding the sacrifice behind its meaning. Love in its definition isn't about a strong feeling towards someone, but action. Rachel Van Dyken

My heart feels strong for you, my desire isn’t just to marry you and let this be our moment, Kiersten. I want to marry you and create a million moments every single day. Rachel Van Dyken

But when a person’s so stuck in their own hole of darkness – it hurts like hell when someone shines a light on them. Your eyes have to adjust, and let’s just say it isn’t a pleasant experience; it’s why people stay there. Rachel Van Dyken

Being with Demetri wasn’t the absence of pain, it was the added presence of peace, making it easier and easier for that little part of my heart to heal again.-- From Pull: A Seaside Novel Rachel Van Dyken

If beauty is pain – let me get lost in it. If you’re my salvation – I want to earn it. If love is all I have to give – then let me give it. You. It’s all for you.” Gabe’s eyes opened and locked in on mine. “How can I prove that what I feel is real? You ask for truth I give you lies. You ask for joy I make you cry. But I don’t want to lose you. Not like this. Not when I’ve left your heart in such a mess. Give me one chance – I’m letting go of the past – but I need you here to know.” “If beauty is pain – let me get lost in it. If you’re my salvation – I want to earn it. If love is all I have to give – then let me give it. You, it’s all for you.” He paused, hitting the last few notes, and the song ended. Gabe’s smile lit up the room. But I was frozen in place. Me. He’d sung that to me. Rachel Van Dyken

I could never hate you as much as I love you. Rachel Van Dyken

Split in two, ” he sang, “Loved by one, and then another. Pulled in a direction and then the other. If I could breathe you in, all of you, every day of my life, it wouldn’t be enough. My heart was captive long ago – then you stole it away, you helped me grow. Now I’m staring at my crossroads with a choice to make, wondering how in the world I even thought there was one way to take.” His hands flew over the piano, muscles tightened in his forearms as he leaned forward and continued singing. “My biggest fear, is not the ending of this life, but going through it without you by my side.” He repeated the chorus and closed his eyes, humming the haunting melody in such a way that I felt hypnotized. “Letting her go will be the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do – but I’m doing it so I can say goodbye to her – and good morning to you. Tell me it’s not too late to ask for a second.” He smirked but continued singing. “Third, fourth, tenth date.” His hands slowed. “Loving you will always be easy because when I look into your eyes I know you see the real me, so be my love, be my rain, be my clouds, be my pain.” “My biggest fear, is not the ending of this life, but going through it without you by my side.” He stopped playing. The room fell silent. Rachel Van Dyken

The truth really does set you free – but what they don’t tell you is the process hurts like hell. Rachel Van Dyken

Tex?” I whispered.“ Yeah?”“ Enemies or lovers right now?” He sighed and kissed my head. “Both, we’ll always be both. Rachel Van Dyken

Today I gave you an hour. A year ago I would have given you an eternity. Rachel Van Dyken

People will go through their entire lives justifying every damn decision…they’ll fight for all the wrong things, until finally the right thing stares at them square in the face. That’s when the choices start to matter. Because in the end, you’re a creature of habit. So you may want to choose right, but choose wrong in the end – because you’re so damn used to it. It’s tragic, then again, life’s tragic . Rachel Van Dyken

In life we always have some measure of control whether it be over our emotions or choices, but when it comes to cancer? The only thing you can control is how you respond to it Rachel Van Dyken

The type of love that makes you want to laugh out loud–scream a bit–run in circles–and then repeat? Yeah that’s how I felt about Wes. Totally. Out. Of. Control. Giddiness Rachel Van Dyken

All that damn therapy you made me go through – and sometimes, Dad, it takes going through hell to reach your heaven.” I looked at the door. “That bad huh?” “What?” “You like her that much?” “No.” I swallowed. “I love her. Rachel Van Dyken

Each stroke of your fingers is a different word that describes the story. By itself it’s meaningless, but–” I pushed down on a few fingers helping her play a few notes. “String them together and you have a melody. You have a story. So, Saylor, what story do you want to tell? Rachel Van Dyken

Every damn breath hurt like hell, but I kept Breathing too. I told myself it would be a privilege to breathe through pain like that for the rest of my life - just knowing each breath was a gift. Rachel Van Dyken

It’s funny isn’t it? People claim to know what love is – yet the minute they’re given the opportunity to prove it – they bail. Because when I said love – I meant I bled for you. When the word love actually leaves my lips – I’m speaking it into existence. I’m empowering my soul – I’m joining with yours.. Rachel Van Dyken

Patience, Abigail. Patience."Abigail snorted. "Patience, right. I am known for having a great handle on the Fruits of the Spirit.""Interesting. I don't recall manipulation being a Biblical virtue. Rachel Van Dyken

I hurt all the damn time because my stupid heart has decided for one reason or another that it can't survive without being next to yours. -Chase Rachel Van Dyken

I am not your sexless friend. I’m not your damn brother. I’m not your gay friend. And I sure as hell not am not thinking about anything right now except that your hands feel really good against my skin. So I’m going to kiss you, and you’re going to respond like the idea of my mouth on yours doesn’t make you want to cry — and you’ll like it Rachel Van Dyken

Kissing you is terrifying, breathing your same air makes my knees weak, when I’m around you it’s a tie between wanting to chase you down — or just kiss you until you can’t breathe. Rachel Van Dyken

Watching someone you love go through difficult times is like being trapped in your own body but paralyzed. You want to yell at them, scream, help them, but your body won’t move, and you know that no matter how hard you try, in the end, the path is theirs to choose. You can’t choose for them. What a terrifying concept, especially considering we hardly see every option when we’re stuck in our own self-defeat. . Rachel Van Dyken

In the end… he would choose Campisi.In the end… she would choose Abandonato.In the end… there would be bloodshed. Rachel Van Dyken

Gabe held my face between his hands. “What you two have – it’s a once in a lifetime – you fight for him, sweetheart. Fight for him with every last breath. No regrets, okay? Rachel Van Dyken

If life was perfect, how in the hell would v evr learn to depend on someone other dn ourselves? If anything, dt’s wat life’s taught me. D need to b perfect is stemmed in d very belief dt it’s actually something v cn achieve. Self-actualization –doesn’t exist.”“ Does dt mean v don’t try then?” “No.” “It just means wen u reach end of ur rope, u shdn’t regret a damn thing, bt applaud urself for trying impossible . Rachel Van Dyken

That's stupid." I laughed into his chest. "Boys can't save girls." "You're right." He kissed my temple. "It's the other way around. Rachel Van Dyken

If I could take away his pain… If there was a way to transfer it from his soul onto mine. I would take it. Without hesitation I would take it all. Maybe that’s how you know you love someone. When you actually feel each tear they cry as if they were your own. When you feel each cut, each bruise, each hit as if you’re the one suffering. I bled for him.& in turn, he bled for her. Funny, how life comes full circle . Rachel Van Dyken

Sometimes by holding onto what you love the most – you end up choking the very life from the thing you want to keep on living. It’s possible to try too hard, to love something so deeply that you lose yourself. The danger is never in loving someone – but losing your identity in the process. Because what happens when tragedy strikes? You’re left an empty shell. You’re left with nothing. Rachel Van Dyken

Music without passion is merely noise. A life without passion? You may as well be dead. Rachel Van Dyken

I was planning on giving them the sun and stars as well. It's kind of a package deal; therefore, the moon is for lovers. The stars are for partners. The sun ... for best friends. Rachel Van Dyken

How could I let a love go – one I’d been holding onto for so long – one that felt like home? It’s not easy to let go of the pieces, even though they’re the reason for my pain. I gripped them so hard that my blood fell like rain. But nothing, nothing could have prepared me for a new life with you – one I didn’t deserve, one I want to pursue. Rachel Van Dyken

You may be my new princess. But your mama is my queen. Rachel Van Dyken

Uh, yeah, I love...worms" Classic. Someone should record the gold that flows from my mouth. Rachel Van Dyken

I love you. If you remember nothing else for the rest of your life, if you fall and hit your head and can’t remember my name, if you get so sick you’re unrecognizable, if you hate me, if you’re on your deathbed and can’t manage to even lift a finger – remember this. I. Love. You. Always. Forever. Eternally. Is that kind of love something you can handle, Saylor? Rachel Van Dyken

If God meant for us to carry baggage around, he would have made our skin have little pouches like kangaroos. Or maybe he would have just made it so that each and every one of us were born with huge- ass shoulders to carry the load. Clearly, we weren’t made to carry the weight of the world, kinda makes you wonder why we do it anyway, huh? Rachel Van Dyken

The other thing about moments that are given to us? They’re limited. We don’t get an endless amount. If you miss them, they’re gone. Time machines don’t exist; you can’t go back and fix what’s been broken. Rachel Van Dyken

It's funny isn't it? People claim to know what love is -- yet the minute they're given the opportunity to prove it -- they bail. Rachel Van Dyken