It Scares Me How Fast I Go

I Tried To Avoid Mimi. Her Presence Seemed To Call Forth Every Rejection I'd Ever Experienced-the Teachers Who'd Looked At Me As Though I Held No Promise, The Boys Who Didn't Like Me Back. Around Her, I Became Fourteen Again.

He Gives Me A Kiss That Barely Touches My Lips – It Means Nothing Or Everything. After He’s Gone, I Think, Happy Birthday To Me. Jack Says, ‘that Was The Guy?’ ‘that Was Him.’ Jake Shakes His Head. ‘what?’ ‘he’s Not For You,’ He Says. I Say, ‘how Do You Know?’ But What I Mean Is, How Do You Know? ‘he’s Like Ashley Wilkes,’ He Says. ‘any One Of These Guys Is Rhett-ier Than He Is.’ Again, I Ask My Benignly Inflected, ‘how Do You Know?’ ‘how Do I Know?’ He Says, Tackling Me Into A Bear Hug. ‘how Do I Know? I Know, That’s How I Know.

It Scares Me. But Then I Get This Big Feeling, Simple But Exalted: He's Like Me, Just With Different Details.

I Feel In Some Ways I've Had A Difficult Life. And It Makes Me The Kind Of Writer I Am, In What I Value, What I Respect, What I Hold Dear.

She Seems Sort Of Lost.' I Thought, Lost How? How Am I Lost? Suddenly I Felt Lost.