"Always and forever," she replied, her heart so full, she had no room for anything but their love.

But now the hour is late, and all of that is another tale, for another day.

After a moment, he buried his head in his hands.

It was cold.

And when she put her arms round his neck and tucked her face into the nook where his neck met his shoulder, he knew that time no longer mattered, not for them.

So let's make this quick.

Flesh would become stone, and stone become flesh, and someday they would meet in the mouth of a bird.

Love, eternal.

'Ma,' said Ben, 'I'm in a bad place."

And as the moon ascended over the Colorado mountains, her cries of ecstasy rose on the cold night air.

"I'm sorry," says Ruth.

Once true and fiery to the core, they were now just lore.

Love, eternal.

"Damn you to Hell!"

Perhaps being a hero has a few advantages after all.

"The only star I'm interested in is you."

Together.

Between kisses, she said, "I love you too, Juni."

I lifted my arm to say goodbye, then walked straight into the mouth of a lion.

Here we are.

"You stuck me with the evidence, so I'm walking back inside with you."

Boop reckoned they were.

Looking at the Jefferson family and the distance they had come to undo the damage she had done, I figured I could make an exception.

That necessitated another kiss.

It waited for them in the hills and forests of home.

Behind him stands his deputy chief of staff, Madison Bez.

"Okay."

It was still pouring, and you were very young, so 3 minutes in the rain was enough to do the trick.

Though you may leave Paris, Paris never really leaves you.

Time to make some new memories.

Now get out there and show the world what it truly looks like to be ignited for Christ.

Also, it's clear that the book title is a reference to The Little Mermaid, right?

And trust me when I tell you that you never, ever see it coming.

C'mon along and join the fun.

This goes beyond visibility, dignity, or having crushes validated and rather stands on justice, revolution and, finally, rethinking and reimagining sexuality and gender as a society.

Hear the words of my dirt-poor and sweet ole' Granny from the Ozarks: "Everything will be alright."

And remember we will.

It's hard to think of a better response to a miserable 2020 than spending the next ten years dedicating ourselves to this ambitious goal.

You're a Job Shopper now.

With gratitude, self-awareness, maybe a tiny bit of residual self-doubt that helps keep you grounded, and a big smile that makes you feel a little stupid, you have to act.

"Ron's in heaven, and he's with God."

He looked at me in wonder and said, "Wow, Zaidy. One day you're gonna be famous."

This is our elephant.

She detected several rolls of wrapping paper stacked under the counter.

"Where's my gift?"

"I don't think she ever would have imagined us when she left us the shop together, but I'm grateful she did."

And just as Lynley had instructed her to do, she made even that look like part of the show.

"Now who would like some tea?"

I like that.

After she finished briefly dicing and swallowing the things, she pulled alongside close, keeping her body tight against my good leg: not for support, I knew, but simply to make sure that I knew she was there.