The Realm of You: A Novel

You don’t ever have to apologize for feeling, Marlin. Life’s not worth living if we don’t feel intensely.

We’d find each other. I believe that. We might have a different story, but we’d find each other. Our souls were destined to meet, I think, long before our bodies were.

Our love is stronger. More resilient. Happy people who fall in love learn to take that love for granted over time. We’ll never do that, because we’ll always remember what it was like to walk through the hellish battlefield alone. It’s always better with you, and our love is more potent because of

Love isn’t about loving a perfect person. No one is perfect. Everyone has flaws. You can fall in love with the flaws. You can love every atom in their body.

There is no Marlin of yesterday. I exist only in this life—this wonderful life.

If nothing saves us from death, may love at least save us from life.” His

I wanted to save you, because you saved me,

We have the same hiding places—the same dark parts. I see these things in you, because I recognize them in myself. I see the sorrow behind your smile. I see the love behind your anger. I see the reason behind your silence. And I know we have a long way to go, but I want to go there with you.

This is what I’ve been looking for. This is what was missing: my little bean, and the man who loves all of me. The man who loves every single atom in my body.

Not everyone gets to be happy. Not everyone gets the fairytale romance.

He loves me despite my flaws, so I can and should love him despite his. It’s not like I have anywhere else to go. He saved me. Simple as that. You should always stay with your hero.

Is the type of love that results from two broken people weaker or worse off than regular love?