Strangers

Kate, I need to use the toilet,” he called through the door. “You’ve just had hours in the sea. Couldn’t you have gone then?” “Mum told me to get out of the water first.” “What, even the ocean?” “It’s wrong to pollute.” He tried to sound serious.

Better not to have anything. Not even love. If you got attached to something, it only got taken away. Child or adult. Toys or people. No difference

...do me the very great honor of becoming...the person who'll cook me lovely things to eat, who'll cheer me up when I'm miserable, who'll tell me no and mean it...

I want you so much I’m scared,” he whispered. “I’m scared I want you so much,” Kate whispered back.

I love you because I can be honest with you. I trust you. I love you because you've made me see I'm more than I thought.

I don’t feel part of the world. No one needs me or wants me or even likes me very much. I don’t like myself. The world will keep turning without me. I’ll be no great loss. I’m just a temporary misuse of a minute amount of carbon.