Dannielle Wicks

“She looks so broken, I don't want to hurt her more.”

“Their eyes find mine and they freeze. Emotions flicker across their faces quicker than I can identify, until finally they settle on one I recognize. One I see every time Miya looks at me. Love. - Dylan”

“He sighs. "It's just, you said they're up there protecting us..." He looks down at his hands in his lap. "Then why didn't they protect me?”

“He runs his hands up my back and into my hair, pulling me closer. I lose myself in the feel of his body against mine and the way his soft lips coax mine to life. Almost without thinking, I wrap my arms around his warm waist.”

“Please don’t forget me, don’t let me fade away… I was here, I lived, and I loved…”

“And for the first time since I woke in the alley--I don't want to die. I want to live. I want to see Miya again, and Matthew and Ashlee and Sammy and Kai. I want to live long enough to see my mom and dad again, and my sister, Lily.”

“Do you know how easy it would be to kill you, Miya? I've thought about it--killing you...and you think I'm not a monster.--Dylan”

“You deserve to be happy, Dylan." "So do you." "Good thing we've got each other then," she answers, tucking herself into my shoulder, and wrapping her arm around my back.”

“Clouds buzz by, unaware of the scary world below them. I envy them. I envy the easy way that they live and die. They never have to worry about tomorrow and what horrors or death it might bring.”

“Miya? What are you doing?" I drop to my knees and hold my hands out to stop her."Murderer..." she whispers. I shake my head, suddenly scared. "No..." "Monster," she says, louder this time. She swings the sword in a large arc, aiming for my head. I flinch away just as its sharp edge reaches my skin...”

“You were right. I can't be trusted around people." "What does that make me? A stuffed potato?”

“I can feel myself slipping away. Slowly leaving who and what I am behind. - Dylan”

“Something in me snaps. Since I woke in the alley I've been pushed down, feared and prosecuted for things out of my control. Well, enough is enough.”

“I freeze when I come face to face with a naked man’s chest. Why does this keep happening to me? Trying to keep my eyes averted from his very naked lower regions, I look up.”

“Don’t do this self-sacrificing bullshit, Dylan. Not again. I’m sick and tired of it. For once, it would be nice if you would just let me help you. You deserve to live. You deserve to be as happy as any of us. You're not a monster. — Miya”