I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the horses the new strength of fear for the last mill so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay a child near death so that it came to shore where a man sat wakeful at midnight to receive you.

And if you couldnt be loved the next best thing was to be let alone.

I am your moon and your moonlight tooI am your flower garden and your water tooI have come all this way eager for youWithout shoes or shawlI want you to laughTo kill all your worriesTo love youTo nourish you.

Those who have never known the deep intimacy and the intense companionship of happy mutual love have missed the best thing that life has to give.

I hadnt been out to the hives before so to start off she gave me a lesson in what she called bee yard etiquette. She reminded me that the world was really one bee yard and the same rules work fine in both places. Dont be afraid as no life-loving bee wants to sting you. Still dont be an idiot wear long sleeves and pants. Dont swat. Dont even think about swatting. If you feel angry whistle. Anger agitates while whistling melts a bees temper. Act like you know what youre doing even if you dont. Above all send the bees love. Every little thing wants to be loved.

Eric called Als suicide brave and he was wrong. My mothers death was brave. I remember how calm she was how determined. It isnt just brave that she died for me it is brave that she did it without announcing it without hesitation and without appearing to consider another option.

...and for a moment I thought I loved her. But I am slow-thinking and full of interior rules that act as brakes on my desires.

We should love not fall in love because everything that falls gets broken.

The first time hed held her hand it felt so good that it crowded out all the bad things. It felt better than anything had ever hurt.

You were a summer gift one Ill always treasure. You were a dream I never wanted to wake up from. You opened my eyes to things Ill never really see. Youre the best thing that will ever happen to me.