I Am Not Just What I Remember.

And Yet, I Felt A Surge Of Exhilaration Just Thinking About That Night. Not Just Because I'd Met The Prince And Fallen In Love And Started On My Course Toward Happiness Ever After, But Because I'd Made Something Happen. I'd Done Something Everybody Had Told Me I Couldn't. I'd Changed My Life All By Myself. Having A Fairy Godmother Would Have Ruined Everything.

Unlike My Mother, My Father Does Not Cry Quietly. His Wails Roll Out Like A Wave Of Pain, And I Scramble To Roll Up My Window. My Mother Cannot Hear That. I Cannot Bear To Hear It Myself. I Am Not Used To My Father's Crying. I've Had No Time To Harden My Heart Against Him.

"don't Let Go!" He Orders. Harper's Hand Is Dry And Soothing, While Mine Is Sweaty With Fear. We've Never Held Hands Before. I Think About What It Means In The Village When Boys And Girls Only A Few Years Older Then Harper And Me Wander Around With Their Hands Clasped Together. They're Always Peering Dreamily Into Each Other's Eyes, Sneaking Sky Kisses...and Soon After, There's A Wedding.

And Nedley Started Saying,'shut Up!quit That! And I Knew It Really Meant Something To Him. So I Asked For His Help,"mark Said. "don't Tell The Story Like That," Nedley Laughed. "what He Said Was 'quit Pretendin You're A Bad Guy I Need Your Help, And I Need It Now!

I Wish, Peevishly, That He Didn't Know Anything About How Soldiers Sleep, How They Protect Their Fellow Soldiers. It Would Be Nicer If I Could Share The Cloaks Warmth With Him, If We Could Lie With Our Faces Together, Whispering Into The Night.