1
Patches don’t look it, but when attached to your soul they can get pretty heavy. They go over the holes in your soul, like when you patch a sock. When you have a hole in your soul, it’s because you’re hurting from something. I don’t know if you noticed, but that girl had a lot of holes.Nathan Reese Maher
2
The shadow self is what lies beneath the makeup. It’s those ugly parts that you haven’t accepted about yourself. You hide those parts in the shadows until you’re ready.” Her face remained a haunting calm. “When you realize the scars are who you are, that there was nothing wrong with you and that you were beautiful all along - that’s when you decide to take the makeup off.Nathan Reese Maher
3
Because I am, just as you are you. We don’t always get to pick who we are, Shelly Wynn, but we can choose to celebrate it.Nathan Reese Maher
4
There’s nothing wrong with you at all. Sometimes people say or do things that are mean because there's something the matter with them. With Lydia, it seems there’s always something wrong with her.Nathan Reese Maher
5
I’m afraid they’re not coming.” Abby said fearfully. “Our parents, our teachers — everyone! They’ve disappeared. That’s it. Lights out, Shelly. We’re on our own.Nathan Reese Maher
6
It’s no big deal. It’s kind of like a tattoo. It won’t hurt, not too much, just a few stitches and it’ll be all over. It’s really interesting how it’s done. You won’t believe where your soul hides. Go on, take a guess. Where do you think it is?Nathan Reese Maher
7
Aloha Oukou. It looked like your soul was escaping so I put you in a tree.Nathan Reese Maher
9
Somehow her hula hoop had cut into the driver’s side door like the vehicle was made of cheese.Nathan Reese Maher
10
Soon, all the children were chanting it. “No school! No school!Nathan Reese Maher
11
Shelly shook her head and made sure she had plenty of space so that she wouldn’t hit anything. As many times before, she kept the hoop close to her waist and then twirled it with small, tight bursts of speed. As the hoop gathered in momentum it started to give off a hum that soon took on a light blue illumination far brighter than the streetlamps. It was so bright, that it lit up the entire backyard. .Nathan Reese Maher