Never would forever, with all its meanings, be so clear and distinct as in the true, guaranteed end of the world.

Okay,' he said. He took a breath. 'What would you do, if you could do anything?'
I took a step toward him, closing the space between us. 'This,' I said. And then I kissed him.
Kissed him. There, in the middle of the street, as the world went on around us. Behind me, I knew Jason was still waiting for an explanation, my sister was still lecturing, and that angel still had her eyes skyward, waiting to fly. As for me, I was just trying to get it right, whatever that meant. But now I finally felt I was on my way. Everyone had a forever, but given a choice, this would be mine. The one that began in this moment, with Wes, in a kiss that took my breath away, then gave it back- leaving me astounded, amazed, and most of all, alive.

That was the thing. You just never knew. Forever was so many different things. It was always changing, it was what really everything was all about. It was 20 minutes, 100 years, or just this instant, or any instant I wished would last and last. But there was only one truth about forever that really mattered, and it was this: it was happening. Right then as I ran with Wes into that bright sun, and every moment afterwards.

Sometimes, you get things right the first time. Others, the second. But the third time, they say, is the charm.

Like a blinking cursor on an empty page, it was just the first thing. The beginning of the beginning. But at least it was done.” “It was kind of soothing, these sounds of lives being lived all around me, for better or for worse. And there I was, in the middle of them all, newly reborn and still waiting for mine to begin.

I would miss Colby, but it wasn't going anywhere. All the more reason why I should.