“I can't--I can't think about anything or anyone else," he whispered. A hand drifted up, dragging back through his hair. "I can't think straight when you're around. I can't sleep. It feels like I ca...”

“Life isnt fair." I said. "Its taken me a while to get that. Its always going to disappoint you in some way or another. Youll make plans, and itll push you in another direction. You will love people...”

“He could silence me, but Rob had no power over my mind”

“The question stayed with me every day, through every class, through every Op. I felt its teeth tighten around the back of my neck each time I was dismissed without a second look; it had locked its ...”

“I bet it gets pretty lonely with only your ego for company.”

“None of this is your fault,' I told him. 'None of it. You aren't responsible for what other people do, good or bad. Everyone is just making the choices they think will help them get by.”

“I don't want to lose youThen why are you the one that keeps letting go?”

“Life isnt fair." I said. "Its taken me a while to get that. Its always going to disappoint you in some way or another. Youll make plans, and itll push you in another direction. You will love people...”

“Let's carpe the hell out of this diem.”

“You gotta stand up and walk, Gem, he said quietly, turning his back on them. You have to walk out of here. Not just for them, but for yourself. Come on. You have to walk out of here on your own two...”

“You gotta stand up and walk, Gem,” he said quietly, turning his back on them. “You have to walk out of here. Not just for them, but for yourself. Come on. You have to walk out of here on your own t...”

“I can't--I can't think about anything or anyone else," he whispered. A hand drifted up, dragging back through his hair. "I can't think straight when you're around. I can't sleep. It feels like I ca...”