#lead a horse to water - can't make it drink I guess? who knows how my brain works

[hey-hamlet]

Happy birthday happy birthday happy birthday!!!!!!

For the prompt thing, how about something based on the song The Tornado by Owl City? It is my utmost beloved. Not sure which of your au's would work with it, so if you pick this prompt you can pick whichever you feel like <33

Good luck on the quarter life crisis btw, I'm sure you'll figure stuff out and end up happier on the other side <3

Was my birthday about a month ago? perhaps. I am back now. I'd say this will not happen again, but it will and for that I am sorry. Anyway!! Onto the fic.

It was quiet. So very, very quiet.

Izuku carefully picked his way out of his bedroom, all traces of sleep long gone. The house was that strange bright darkness that lit the earliest hours of the morning, hours before the sun peaked over the horizon but still close enough to light the sky an odd, sickly grey. He'd woken abruptly to a deafening quiet that was impossible for the bustling apartment complex in downtown Mutsufasu he and his mother lived in. He had the childish urge to go get his mother, but it was Wednesday and her night shift wouldn't be over until sometime past sunrise.

Nothing was wrong with the kitchen, nor the entranceway. The light was too low to pick out any detail, but everything was where it should be. He paused.

The light was too low. In the kitchen. There was no glow from the clock face on the microwave, nor from the pilot light on the oven. He couldn't hear the faint hum of the electrical outlets nor the groan of the coolant through the refrigerator. A blackout? That explained some of the quiet.

Not all of it.

With a creeping sense of dread, he grabbed his keys from the front pocket of his backpack where it lay abandoned on the kitchen counter. He'd tossed it aside, too fraught from the terrible day he'd had at school to put it where it belonged. Kacchan had - well. It didn't matter, not right now. He'd have given anything for Kacchan to be right here. Kacchan was never quiet.

His keys were too loud as he unlocked the front door - first the deadbolt, then the main lock, before finally pausing at the latch. His hands shook, fine tremors he struggled to see in the darkness. Breath in. Breath out. Move.

The door, too, was quiet. Well-oiled hinges opened silently. The bright-dark of an approaching dawn met him - no street lights. He grit his teeth, leaving the false safety of his apartment, and almost dropped to his knees when he got a good look at what was around him.

Destruction. As far as he could see, Mutsutafu had been reduced to rubble. The apartments beside him were missing, rubble and rebar and limp, unconnected powerlines. It was still the tallest building left. How was it so quiet? No sirens, no people yelling, not even the sound of running water from a burst pipe. The rubble had already settled.

And Izuku had only been woken up by the silence.

Who - who could have -

Kacchan's house. Where was Kacchan's house?

He scanned the distance desperately - past the park, the grass now covered by fine grey dust, the nicer area with the freestanding houses - he couldn't see. It was too far, too far to see if Kacchan's house was rubble or if it was just caught in the blackout.

Izuku took off down the stairs. He didn't think about the fact every apartment that bordered them was either rubble, missing or silent. Kacchan had to be ok.

Kacchan was never quiet.

[doodlemancy]

Hey there I just have a question about the Patreon stuff - I 100% agree with everything you said, I'm not too knowledgeable about some of the things Patreon has done. I know they want to get rid of first of the month and per creation billing, but WHY? Why do they hate it so much and want to get rid of it so badly??

hmmmm. i can't say i know for sure, but i can make some guesses. a lot of it seems like an unwillingness to problem-solve, honestly. there have been various excuses that i can remember-- one is that processing everything at the beginning of the month leads to all the Payment Processing Problems happening at once which, fair, understandable. hire more people, sorry patreon, you already made your bed on this and now you get to lie in it for the sake of the people that depend on it. another excuse they made during the fiasco in 2021 is that a lot of people sign up in the middle or toward the end of the month and think they've been "double charged" when the 1st of the next month rolls around, and they get charged again less than a month after they signed up. it apparently leads to a lot of customer service tickets. instead of implementing ANY features that would help patrons understand this better at signup, or allow patrons to delay payment until the 1st of the next month, they wanted to do away with 1st-of-the-month billing entirely. and like yes. this is a problem. chargebacks are bad. having to deal with a lot of help tickets at the same time every month is bad. but having worked customer service long enough: clarify your language and again, hire more people, sorry! bed made! lie in it!

with the apple thing... i kind of wonder if that's been an influence in the past and for how long. it feels like they are really insistent on changing their service's behavior to be more predictable to the average Netflix/Doordash/etc. subscriber or whatever. the rolling bill structure is the default for most stuff, and it does make sense to want to be predictable... but in general they really seem to think very little of the intelligence of patrons. which is an understandable consequence of dealing with any kind of customer service-- just statistically speaking you will encounter a lot of horses who cannot be made to drink or even led to any kind of water and it will make you think humanity is doomed. but it's weird that they're willing to trade out entire portions of their userbase for that predictability. i think some of this is also a venture-capital-driven desperate desire for wider appeal, which is the fall of every tech company at some point, i guess. the insistence that the apps no one likes are Extremely Important is what bolsters my belief that this is a misguided growth-chasing thing. like everyone else, they probably are trying to make line go up, and there's no room to be pleased with a sustainable niche in that equation.

i don't know if there are other mysterious under-the-hood reasons, like if it's gonna be better for them re: payment processing fees or something or if their processors or investors are giving them shit about it for some reason or another. it's likely there's something else they are, as usual, not being transparent about.

so yeah. it's not that i think Patreon would be easy to run. it's not that i don't see that there are some legit challenges here. but i do think they are strangely willing to give up and go straight to the most destructive solution rather than try to figure out how to make the thing work. i don't really know exactly what's going on more than anyone else does, i'm just looking for patterns.

also: i know you don't, anon, but if anyone's thinking i've been too harsh or that i'm too suspicious of patreon up-front here and am Probably Just Unpleasable... they do have a history of deceptive shit. it's been their thing for a looooong time to take secret polls only of select groups of users so they can say that their bad decisions are based on "user feedback". i actually got an email invite back in 2021 for a secret behind-the-scenes call that i'm sure they were just gonna use to try to justify some more shit. i declined and told them they should have learned by now to ask the whole community for input on big decisions, and i got a predictably dodgy answer. sigh. i wish they really cared about us.

[crazycatsiren]

i guess my question with the ask about my friend i just sent is ... how can i explain the appropriation/arm them with resources to read themselvee? how can i help them cope with perceived loss of things that werent theirs to begin with?

Keep in mind, it's not your job to educate or fix people. You can point them to resources you find and people you follow on social media who know what they're talking about, but remember, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. Some people are just too far gone to turn around.

[revisionaryhistory]

Three Days ~82

~*~Emma~*~

I awoke to see Sebastian laying on his side, leaning onto his elbow, with his head propped up on his hand. Diffuse sunlight filled the room and clearly showed me his face. He didn’t look sleepy. His face was relaxed with the slightest smile. Who knows how long he'd been watching me sleep. That thought made me smile.

He jerked his head up a little, "Tell me what you're thinking."

"I like seeing you when I wake up and knowing you'll be the last person I see before I fall asleep. And I'm excited about everything in between."

"The Louvre, dinner on the Seine, cabaret. Fun day."

I shook my head with a frown, "No, not what we're doing. I'm excited to spend the day with you." Sebastian closed his eyes, smiled a little wider, and took a few breaths. I knew what he was doing. He was taking in my words, feeling them, believing them. Before he opened his eyes, I moved closer to kiss him. "Je t'aime."

"I know that one." His fingers ran through my hair, smoothing the morning disarray. "In how many languages can you tell me you love me?"

I gasped and held my mouth open, "Just three, but now I have a goal."

"Crazy girlfriend."

I rolled on top of him, "Just about you." I did exactly what you’re supposed to do when you're naked in bed laying on top of a naked man.

I tickled him.

Our tickle fight lasted until we were laughing so hard it was hard to breathe. That and when Sebastian pinned my hands to the bed. "Je veux te faire l 'amour." He kissed me and pressed his erection closer between my legs. "I have a good memory too."

I don't know how it gets better than this. Waking up in Paris, with a gorgeous man watching me sleep, making love, then sitting on the terrace in big fluffy robes having coffee and croissants.

The guide at The Louvre was knowledgeable but a little stuffy. We spent much of the tour hanging back with another couple laughing inappropriately. The museum was incredible and we stayed around after the tour to revisit areas and check out some places not included. Sebastian liked items where I was mesmerized by the vibrant colors of the paintings. Lunch today would become our go-to. Pick up something near to and find a spot to sit in the park. Food and people watching was always a good time.

We headed back to the hotel to fool around before dressing for dinner. On the boat, we were seated by the window. We headed to the upper deck with a glass of wine for sunset. Last night's sunset view was unforgettable for many reasons. Tonight's was more beautiful with the lights of the city and bridges. It was romantic in a more refined way. Last night was casual clothes sneaking kisses in the dark. Tonight was dressed up, high heels, and elegant stemware. Kisses weren't as sneaky in the wide open space. The food was delicious. We started with duck foie gras and Scottish salmon. My main was scallops with sweet potato risotto and seaweed cream. Sebastian promised to save me from the seaweed if it triggered me. He went for a filet of beef, pea pudding, and veal gravy. The aroma from the fresh bread with the cheese course was mouth watering. Sebastian enjoyed my excitement and took more pictures of me eating cheese than anything else except drinking wine. For dessert, we decided one decadent and one fresh. A white chocolate raspberry lychee sphere and lemon basil tart. I nearly had to stab Sebastian with a fork for hogging all the sphere. The return trip was dark. Only the lights of the city and running lights illuminated to boat.

The night included a visit to a cabaret. That the Moulin Rouge was more touristy led us to the Crazy Horse. Still famous, but not the most sought after. We'd been told the Moulin Rouge was over the top and Crazy Horse more subtle. That may be true, but one important detail was left out. The dancers at the Crazy Horse were often naked. Sexy dance numbers, visual effects, and vibrant light shows. At times the lights were the only clothes. Darkness was used strategically as was glow in the dark body paint. What I noticed was all the women were in Louboutin, which lead me to believe the lingerie was expensive as well. There was a part with a very good looking man stripping. It was more funny than sexy. The combination of erotic dance and risqué humor kept both of us entertained

We talked about our favorite parts on the ride back to the hotel. Sebastian opened the door, letting me walk by into the hotel, "Is it wrong that I asked where the lingerie was from?"

"I wondered, but didn't think to ask. I loved the black bodysuit with all the straps."

"So did I."

Imagine my shocked face. You'd have to imagine because I wasn’t making that face. I waited until we were in the room to ask, "Did you find out where this shop is?"

He pulled his phone out and went to maps. A slow smile formed, "About two blocks. Across from Dior."

I folded my legs under me and sat on the couch. "Fun."

He sat next to me. He was fiddling with the bottom hem of his shirt. He was nervous. "Are you running up a crazy credit card bill to amuse me?"

What a sweety. My recent shopping habits didn’t match my teacher salary. I guess we were going to have this conversation. "My grandfather has it set up where his stock dividends are split between the grandchildren. It's paid out quarterly and there's no way to know how much, so I've never factored it into my budget. It goes into a savings account. I have a rule that it's only for fun. I took Angie and Eli with me to Hawaii. After a horrible start to the year, Malory and I went to Key West." I grimaced, "I don't remember much of that trip. And if I want to go shopping I can. I do appreciate your concern." I leaned over and kissed him. "There is a trust fund, but I can't touch that until I'm thirty. That's partly why it was important to go off on my own. I grew up with money, so when Jimmy said I couldn't take care of myself I needed to prove it to myself, even though I know it wasn’t completely on my own."

Sebastian interrupted, "Don't diminish what you’ve done. You started over in a new place where you knew no one or even where to grocery shop. You've got a Master's and accepted into a Doctoral program. Anyone who thinks you can't take care of yourself is wrong."

This fierce defense was very attractive. Money can be embarrassing. I realize I'm privileged, and I try not to behave like a trust fund baby. I would never go shopping as I had with anyone but Angie. I know it was a splurge.

“I just wanted to check.” I wanted to ask what if I had been, but he kept going, and I didn’t feel the need to stop him. “Back to the fun stuff. Is it bad form to buy you a gift that's really for me?"

"For my birthday or Christmas, yes. Otherwise, no. I'm not sure that sexy lingerie that gets you hard isn't as much a benefit to me as it is you."

"You realize you in sweatpants and a t-shirt gets me hard. You in a bathrobe. You in a potato sack."

"I wonder who that says more about?" We laughed and I laid across him, counting on him to support me. "It does make us both lucky."

"Oh, don't I know it."

We spent the next day touring Versailles Palace. We jumped off the tour to explore as soon as we hit the outskirts of the city. When we were out of interesting places we jumped on the metro until we saw something new to explore. Dinner was at this Ping Pong cafe. The food was delicious and fortified us for the play to come. I am just as competitive playing ping pong with my boyfriend as I am on a volleyball court. There was a lot of trash talking. What made it more fun was how truly awful we both were. Neither was sure of the rules so we argued over and made them up as we went. In the end, I lost due to a combination of unsuccessful attempts at cheating and Sebastian being slightly less awful than me. Our overly dramatic antics did amuse nearby patrons and when Sebastian was recognized he was gracious in conversation and signing autographs. We made it to the Pont Alexandre III bridge just as the sun set. It was ornate and a beautiful end to the day.

Next up was a day of museums and checking out wherever in between. We met up with a guide in the afternoon for a walking tour of Art Nouveauarchitecture. On our way back to the hotel we passed by the lingerie shop. A quick discussion later we decided not to go in. It would ruin some of the fun if the other knew what we bought. I also decided I needed to find some sexy underwear for him. I checked; he'd wear them. Dinner was my responsibility tonight. I found a rooftop restaurant with a great wine list and an even better view.

Tuesday, the day before the fashion shows, was the day I was looking most forward to. It was an early start and long trip to Mont Saint Michel. Claire had hired us a car and we napped most of the trip. The town is a tidal island and when the tide comes in it covers the causeway, only cutting off access for about an hour, but still. We parked at the tourism office and took off our shoes for the half mile walk over the mudflats. It didn’t look like a dangerous trek, but apparently, quicksand was real here.

We weren't far into our walk when Sebastian asked, "Is this Hogwarts?"

Our guide laughed, "No, but yes. The movie was not filmed here but as you will see much of the architecture is similar and the street does resemble Diagon Alley."

Sebastian looked at me, "Did you know?"

I shook my head, "I love gothic architecture and castles. Versailles was incredible, but this is a hundred times better. Stonework, stained glass, the high pointed arches." I grabbed onto his arm, bouncing on my toes. "I'm so excited. This is surreal." I held my hand out toward the Abbey. "Look at this, I mean, look at this."

He was smiling at me, "Should take you home to Romania. Lots of castles."

"Don't tease me." I let go of him and walk to stand in a small puddle. The water was cool and the sand squished between my toes. I felt like I was in the bubble from my favorite guided meditation. I put my arms out with my shoes dangling off my fingers and twirled. I stopped facing Sebastian. He had his phone out, pointed at me. "What are you taking pictures of?"

"You." He laughed, "With a castle island thingy in the background."

I heard the guide say, "Your mademoiselle is much more beautiful than the background."

Sebastian nodded, "That she is."

I walked back to them and reached for his hand. He handed his phone to our guide to take a couple of pictures before we headed on.

I was in absolute heaven. Even more so when I saw Sebastian as in awe as I was with the narrow cobblestone streets and stairways that appeared out of nowhere. Our guide had stories and let us lead, only giving direction if we were missing something. He took the lead when we approached the Abbey and guided us through spaces as tiny as closets and large as cathedrals. The arches along the walkway did look like a scene off the bridge in Hogwarts.

Our guide left us at the end of the Abbey tour and after lunch, we walked the ramparts and worked our way around looking at everything and nothing. Talking and laughing.

It wasn’t long into the ride back that I realized my thighs were aching. "What is it with Paris and stairs?"

"There's a fuck ton of them." Sebastian smirked and leaned in to kiss the side of my neck. "I will be happy to massage your thighs when we get back."

"Stretch them out?"

"Definitely."

We both retreated into our phones for a while. Neither had paid attention to them since we got here. The return trip was good for nudging each other to show a picture we took. I texted my chosen family and sent pictures. Sebastian was doing the same thing. He showed me responses on his group chat.

Charles ~ You took her to Paris? Chace ~ You can't take a woman to Paris for a first vacation Will ~ Go big or go home Toby ~ That's it. I need to meet her. Charles ~ Find a date and take the last bedroom in the villa. Toby ~ Chace, wanna go to an island with me? Chace ~ Do I have to put out? Toby ~ What do you think? Will ~ Who has the lube? Chace ~ I bet there's some in Paris.

I'd lowered my phone while I read his. Sebastian pointed to my screen, "What is that?"

"It's that app we made the list on the train."

"You need to send me the list."

"I can do better than that. Can I have your phone?" He handed it over and I went into the app store, installed, and signed into the app under my user name. "Now you can see, edit, add." I kept typing while he looked around. There was more than a sexual to do list. I was currently adding to a notebook called "Moments".

"Can I add to this?" Sebastian was in the same notebook.

"Sure." I bit my lip, "I had a thought. You can say it's stupid or you don't want to."

He put his hand on my leg, "What?"

"I was thinking since we're going to be apart for a while, we could write to each other. Not like texts talking about our day. I'd write things I want you to remember or know. When I'm missing you, I could write a couple of sentences to you or go read what you've written to me. Not any expectation of how often. Just a place for sweet things, sexy things."

I'd gotten the idea while thinking about distance and time zones and insecurity. Perusing old texts is good, but a one-stop place for just love notes is better.

"I love it." He brought me to him and met me for a kiss. "Is this for me or you?"

I had no problem with him knowing I was planning for our time apart. "You saw my love notes from high school. I love them. Texts get lost in a hundred other texts. We can even copy texts over. Pictures. You keep a gratitude journal. This is similar."

"Did you make that up?"

I shrugged, "I doubt it." I showed him how to navigate and create new notebooks. Our first notebook was "Sex To Do" We'd done that together. The one I’d been in, "Moments”, was short form memories. "Holding hands for nine hours with food and conversation.", "Waking in Paris to see you watching me sleep”, "Me showing you architecture", "You showing me artifacts".

Sebastian immediately knew something he wanted to add, I showed him how to create space between limes so he could insert his words. He was going to write in burgundy and me in navy blue. He created a notebook for longer things. He liked to write and wanted a place for more words.

I waited until he’d gotten down a thought before showing him what I'd been most excited for. "Things for Sebastian." I’d already started.

· Te iubesc, Sebasti-an

· I was so lucky to find a lost boy in a grocery store

· You always make me feel cherished and safe

"This one is for battling insecurities. You can read my words and know what you mean to me. You've said you struggle with distance, insecurity, feeling emotionally cut off. I thought this might help keep a connection."

"You've made a security journal."

I thought a moment, "I guess. We've hit a couple of bumps and worked through them. I hoped this may help keep it away over distance."

I watched him switch notebooks and read what I'd written. "Anything I write shows up for you?"

"Yes, once the app refreshes.”

Sebastian looked over with the softest smile I'd ever seen on him. "I love you." The softest kiss followed. "I tell you I'm looking for the perfect moment to kiss you and you create it. I tell you I have confidence issues and you tell me everyone hears that voice. I have a panic attack and you push me to take care of myself. I lay out my anxieties, overthinking, insecurity, and history of shutting women out and you don’t even blink. Now you come up with this way to stay connected with old-fashioned love notes." He bobbed his head back and forth. "More or less." He kissed me. "You want me to feel safe and loved."

I took a deep breath, "Partly." I was telling him my plan to battle his stuff so it was only fair I let him in on mine.

He looked at me questioningly.

"I've never been away from some I love for six weeks. I'm going to miss you and it's going to be hard. This is for me too." I am not going to cry.

His hand went under my hair to my neck, "Are you about to cry?"

"I'm trying not to, but the chance of tears Friday about noon is one hundred percent."

I let him pull me close enough to kiss, "I better get busy." He retreated to his side of the seat, stretching out a leg over my lap, and turning where I couldn't see what he was typing on his phone.

"You realize the whole point is I can see what you write."

"Don't refresh yet. I don't think we should tell each other when we add stuff."

I nodded my agreement.

He stuck his tongue out the corner of his mouth like he was thinking. He typed a bit then looked over, "If I miss you in the middle of the night, I can write you and it will be there when you wake up. I don’t know which I’m looking more forward to. Writing or reading.”

I didn’t either.

[ekkline88]

@taylorswift is my artist of the decade, woman of the decade, writer of the decade, inspiration of the decade because of the following:

‘All that I know is I don’t know how to be something you miss.’

‘You and I walk a fragile line.

I have known it all this time.

Never thought I'd see it break.

Never thought I'd see it...’

‘And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear.’

‘No rules in breakable heaven.’

‘All the king’s horses, all the king’s men couldn’t put me together again. ‘Cause all of my enemies started out friends.’

‘Lyrical smile, indigo eyes, hand on my thigh. We could follow the sparks, I’ll drive.’

‘He says "What you've heard is true, but I can't stop thinking about you." and I said "I've been there too a few times." ‘

‘I reach for you, but you were gone. I knew I had to go back home.’

‘The tricky thing is yesterday we were just children. Playing soldiers just pretending. Dreaming dreams with happy endings.

In backyards, winning battles with our wooden swords. But now we've stepped into a cruel world, where everybody stands and keeps score.’

‘Long were the nights when my days once revolved around you.’

‘And you open your eyes into mine, and everything feels better.’

‘Two headlights shine through the sleepless night. And I will get you, and get you alone. Your name has echoed through my mind. And I just think you should, think you should know that nothing safe is worth the drive and I would follow you, follow you home. I'll follow you, follow you home.’

‘But I believe in whatever you do. And I’ll do anything to see it through.’

‘My mistake I didn't know to be in love you had to fight to have the upper hand.’

‘You cry; but you don't tell anyone that you might not be the golden one. And you're tied together with a smile, but you're coming undone.’

‘One night he wakes, strange look on his face, pauses, then says, you're my best friend. And you knew what it was, he is in love.’

‘And you come away with a great little story of a mess of a dreamer with the nerve to adore you.’

‘So, baby, can we dance through an avalanche?’

‘I was ridin' in a getaway car. I was cryin' in a getaway car. I was dyin' in a getaway car. Said goodbye in a getaway car.’

‘Headlights pass the window pane, I think of you.’

‘ ‘Cause we break down a little. And when you get me alone, it's so simple. ‘Cause baby, I know what you know. We can feel it.’

‘Distance, timing, breakdown, fighting.

Silence, this train runs off its tracks. Kiss me, try to fix it, could you just try to listen?

Hang up, give up, for the life of us we can't get back.’

‘If you live like that, you live with ghosts. If you love like that blood runs cold.’

‘When the sun came up you were looking at me. You were looking at me.’

‘And you were wild and crazy. Just so frustrating. Intoxicating, complicated.

Got away by some mistake.’

‘I can't resist before you go tell me this:

Was it worth it? Was she worth this?’

‘And now I know why all the trees change in the fall. I know you were on my side, even when I was wrong. And I love you for giving me your eyes, for staying back and watching me shine.’

‘I know heaven’s a thing. I go there when you touch me, honey. Hell is when I fight with you. But we can patch it up good. Make confessions and we’re begging for forgiveness. Got the wine for you.’

‘And I can see you years from now in a bar, talking over a football game. With that same big loud opinion, but nobody's listening. Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things.’

‘The way you move is like a full on rainstorm.’

‘Your string of lights is still bright to me. Oh, who you are is not where you've been.’

‘You were all I wanted, but not like this.’

‘These are the hands of fate. You’re my Achilles heel. This is the golden age of something good and right and real.’

‘It was good, never looking down. And right there where we stood was holy ground.’

‘The water filled my lungs, I screamed so loud. But no one heard a thing.’

‘Ooh, ooh, he’s talking crazy. Ooh, ooh, dancing with me. Ooh, ooh, we could get married. Ooh, ooh, have ten kids and teach ‘me how to dream.’

‘I see the high-fives between the bad guys. Leave with my head hung, you are the only one who seems to care.’

‘The stakes are high, the water’s rough, but this love is ours.’

‘Cause darling I’m a nightmare, dressed like a daydream.’

‘Just grab my hand and don't ever drop it, my love. They are the hunters, we are the foxes and we run.’

‘Kiss me once ‘cause you know I had a long night. Kiss me twice ‘cause it’s gonna be alright. Three times ‘cause I waited my whole life.’

‘Your eyes whisper “Have we met?” ‘

‘I hold onto the night you looked me in the eye and told me you loved me.’

‘My heart, my hips, my body, my love. Tryna find a part of me that you didn't touch. Gave up on me like I was a bad drug. Now I'm searching for signs in a haunted club. Our songs, our films, united, we stand. Our country, guess it was a lawless land. Quiet my fears with the touch of your hand. Paper cut stings from our paper-thin plans. My time, my wine, my spirit, my trust. Tryna find a part of me you didn't take up. Gave you so much, but it wasn't enough. But I'll be all right, it's just a thousand cuts.’

‘Braced myself for the goodbye, ‘cause that’s all I’ve ever known. Then you took me by surprise, when you said “I’ll never leave you alone.” ‘

‘And we know it's never simple, never easy. Never a clean break, no one here to save me. You're the only thing I know like the back of my hand.’

‘Remind her how it used to be, be, yeah-yeah. With pictures in frames of kisses on cheeks, cheeks.’

‘Fighting with a true love is boxing with no gloves. Chemistry 'til it blows up, 'til there’s no us.’

‘And there in the bathroom, I try not to fall apart and the sinking feeling starts, as I say hopelessly “He said he’d be here.” ‘

‘We can’t make any promises now, can we, babe? But you can make me a drink.’

‘Is this the end of all the endings? My broken bones are mending with all these nights we’re spending- up on the roof with a school girl crush. Drinking beer out of plastic cups. Say you fancy me, not fancy stuff. Baby, all at once, this is enough.’

‘You hold my hand on the street

Walk me back to that apartment

Years ago, we were just inside

Barefoot in the kitchen

Sacred new beginnings

That became my religion, listen’

‘ When you think happiness, I hope you think "that little black dress" ‘

‘And maybe we got lost in translation, maybe I asked for too much. But maybe this thing was a masterpiece 'til you tore it all up. Running scared, I was there, I remember it all too well. And you call me up again just to break me like a promise. So casually cruel in the name of being honest. I'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here, ‘cause I remember it all, all, all too well.’

‘I don't wanna look at anything else now that I saw you. I don't wanna think of anything else now that I thought of you.’

‘Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your old favorite song.’

‘I was riding shot gun with my hair undone in the front seat of his car. I grabbed a pen and an old napkin and I wrote down our song.’

‘Holy orange bottles, each night I pray to you. Desperate people find faith, so now I pray to Jesus too.’

‘You took the time to memorize me. My fears, my hopes and dreams.’

‘Lantern, burning

Flickered in my mind, only you

But you were still gone, gone, gone.’

‘I bet it never, ever occurred to you that I can’t say hello to you and risk another goodbye.’

‘Long, long live the walls we crashed through. All the kingdom lights shined just for me and you. I was screaming, long live all the magic we made. And bring on all the pretenders, I'm not afraid.’

‘I take a step back, let you go. I told you I'm not bulletproof. Now you know.’

‘But something happened, I heard him laughing. I saw the dimples first and then I heard the accent.’

‘I’m waiting alone now. So come on and come out. And pull me near and shine, shine, shine.’

‘I can see the end as it begins. My one condition is..’

‘And the saddest fear comes creeping in that you never loved me, or her, or anyone, or anything!’

‘Please don’t ever become a stranger whose laugh I could recognize anywhere.’

‘And when you find everything you looked for, I hope your life will lead you back to my front door. Oh but if it don’t? Will you stay beautiful, beautiful, beautiful?’

‘Why? ‘Cause she’s dead.’