Melissa K. Magner

“She’d promised herself, not too long ago, that she’d accept every emotion. Even the painful ones. So if Kieron wanted her to feel pain, then feel it she would. She’d feel the agony and fear. She’d feel the grief.

After all, what was grief, if not love?

And she had loved—she did love—so very deeply.”
― Melissa K. Magner, Of the Sun and Sea

“Do not forget what holds you back, Aeric had said.

Fear. It did more than hold her back; it was her puppeteer. It orchestrated her every thought and movement, and like a compliant marionette, she played the part it wanted her to—lashing out when it gave the order, then freezing just as suddenly. On and on she danced for it, a prisoner to the strings she was bound by, finding it easier to submit than fight back.

No more. Strong as her puppeteer was, she was stronger.”
― Melissa K. Magner, Of the Sun and Sea