In the afternoon, they stopped to eat on a rocky outcrop. Perry brushed a kiss on her cheek while she was chewing, and she learned that it was the loveliest thing to be kissed for no reason, even while chewing food. It brightened the woods, and the never sky, and everything.
She’d fallen into a deep silence once, when the sun appeared, and it was then he’d wondered most what she was thinking.
She’d survived the outside. She’d survived the Aether and cannibals and wolves. She knew how to love now, and how to let go. Whatever came next, she would survive it, too.
If there was no fear, how could there be comfort? Or courage?
I miss you. I miss you. I miss you, I miss you. Be ready, because when I see you, I’ll never let you go again.
A good dream was something you clung to until the last moment before waking.
It’s hard to follow a person’s logic if you don’t know how they feel.
Because people are more than emotions. People have thoughts and reasons for doing things.
The more I try to catch up, the farther I fall behind.
It didn’t matter if Aria was hundreds of miles away, or whether she’d hurt him, or said goodbye, or anything else. Nothing would change the way he felt. The moment Aria had taken his hand on the roof at Marron’s, she’d changed everything. No matter what happened, she’d always be the one.
There was nothing more painful than hurting someone you loved.
We all have the potential to do terrible things. But we also have the potential to overcome our mistakes.
He kissed her slowly. Everything went slowly so he could follow her temper, and search into her eyes. When they joined, her scent was brave and strong and certain. Perry took it into himself, breathing her breath, feeling what she felt. He’d never known anything as right.
She found it curious and frightening that she could deeply dislike someone she didn’t even know. It wasn’t her. At least, it wasn’t how she used to be.
His hand snapped shut over the device and then he crossed his arms. Aria stared in horror. Her Smarteye was buried in a Neanderthal’s armpit.
We lose and lose, but we’re still here. Shaking in place, afraid of doing something. I’m tired of settling for this because I don’t know if something better exists. It has to. What point is there otherwise? I can do something about it now. And I will.
And in life, at least her new life, chances were the best she could hope for. They were like her rocks. Imperfect and surprising and maybe better in the long run than certainties. Chances, she thought, WERE life.
Can you believe I have a favorite cave?
He brought a sense of rightness. She felt it every moment she spent with him. Even the wrong ones. Even the painful ones, like now.
Roar’s smile widened. “I know. You missed me.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s barely been three weeks since I last saw you.” “Miserable stretch of time.” He said.