1
But I stayed up thinking about how I've been lying to him, no less than I lie to myself in my pre-sleep ritual. And I lied to him again just as we were growing more intimate than ever and he asked me about my scar.Zack Love
2
He clearly suffers from some past traumas too, so hopefully he'll understand why I was untruthful to him about mine.Zack Love
3
Adding to my emotional dizziness on Sunday, I spoke with my sister, who kept noting how amazing Michael is, and what a brave and selfless man he is for having helped as he did.Zack Love
4
My past still haunts me when I sleep, although I saw that - much to my surprise- his does as well.Zack Love
5
But then, as I looked in the mirror, I became fixated on some hairs near my carotid artery that were still there. I pushed the blade deep against my neck to shave them off, and then blood squirted out.Zack Love
6
A few minutes later, my eyes began to feel a bit droopy, but I vaguely noticed that Anissa was whispering something.Zack Love
7
The lead-up to the moment was magical in every respect, but a part of me was, and still is, uneasy about the whole thing for many reasons.Zack Love
8
In addition to my new outlook on life, in some absurdly simple way, Anissa gave me several new reasons to live. Above all, I had to see her again and find out what, if anything, would happen between her and me.Zack Love
9
But I did feel the vertigo of death’s invitation, beckoning me towards the dark waters below. Only a newfound perspective and desire steadied my wavering soul. I came to realize, just in time, that suicide was far too easy — and obscenely cowardly — after someone I knew, not even half my age, had been through so much worse and still marched gloriously on.Zack Love
10
She was somehow this damaged creature I had fortuitously encountered along my path and now cared about as a result. Granted, I didn't cause her harm, as I did with Icarus, but I somehow began to feel responsible for her welfare.Zack Love
11
The danger of prolonged despair is its tendency to cloud the gift of a new beginning that every tomorrow offers. --Anissa's RedemptionZack Love
12
Honest dishonesty. That’s quite the oxymoron — but I like the originality that you’ve brought to bear in the art of rationalization. Maybe you should consider becoming a lawyer, ” he added jokingly.Zack Love
13
The unlikely group that resulted from the union of five diverse characters in their late twenties operated with surprising harmony. This cohesiveness could be attributed to two factors: 1) everyone’s issues and embarrassing pasts were plainly disclosed prior to the gang’s formation and 2) the clan had been expressly conceived as a male support group.Zack Love
14
Still not sure about how easily he could be integrated into their posse, Trevor smiled in delighted relief at how tolerantly two of his close friends had received his new identity.Zack Love
15
You and your siblings are the most precious part of my life. And of all my children, you have the most potential to go anywhere you wish in this world — your test scores and grades have always been among the highest of your peers. But it’s clear now that you cannot reach your full potential in Syria.Zack Love
16
It’s not a bad thing, if you’re responsible about it. Just don’t start having boyfriends. Wait until you’ve found your husband.” “And how am I supposed to find a husband if I can’t have a boyfriend until then?” I asked ironically.Zack Love
17
And you can do far more for us from America than you can from here, where you’re just another defenseless Christian. So if you really want to help, Inas, then you’ll go to the very best school you can get into and earn the best grades you can.Zack Love
18
It will all work out, Inas. You come from a long line of survivors and strong women. So everything will be fine in the end. And we are always with you in spirit, to guide you and love you.Zack Love
19
I’m not sure. But — unless I’m struggling with the darkness within — I like to sustain the illusion that death is actually much further from me than it really is.Zack Love
20
Compartmentalization is an unconscious psychological defense mechanism employed to avoid cognitive dissonance.Zack Love