Jena

“Dead leaves give the feeling of relief that there's still something in the world,
That’s also as devoid as you are
Touching every leaf mark on the stem tells you a story
Listen to it carefully
That once there was a connection
But with time
And the change in the season
Made way for the leave to fall off
To change its color too
To tell the stem that this is the time to take a leave
To finally say "goodbye"
And leave behind the faded scars
That'll make way for the birth of new leaves
To make another affiliation with the new companions.”
― Hareem Ch, Muse Buzz

“You told me to get on my knees before you and apologize,” he said. “This is me saying I’m sorry, for all that I have done to you, for all the heartache I have caused, for giving you no choice but to resort to the most wildest of plans to ease the pain I wrought. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but this one thing I seek, so that I may remain near you.”
I must have stared at him for a long, excruciating moment, because he whispered my name. I shifted across the mattress, sitting on the edge of the bed before him, my feet touching the floor. I was afraid to speak—even his name might break me—and I took his face in my hands.
Phelan’s arms came around me. “Tell me what you want me to do,” he said. “Tell me to leave, and I will.”
My fingers slid into his hair. “Stay,” I whispered.”
― Rebecca Ross, Dreams Lie Beneath

“It’s not your fault,” he repeated firmly. “It’s your burden. But it’s not your fault. There’s a difference.”
― Kristin Cashore, Winterkeep

“He'd kept every note she'd written him, and kept his three or four favourites in the envelope in his pocket, always. And the envelope was gone. [...]
"What's wrong?" said Hava, who was watching him with rising impatience.
What was wrong was that Giddon was realizing, with a bright white clarity he'd never had before, that a person did not keep notes like that from a friend, carrying them around like something precious, like treasure, for no reason. It wasn't normal, it wasn't a routine thing to do, and Giddon had never wanted to be Bitterblue's confidant and counselor when she searched for a husband. He'd loved her.”
― Kristin Cashore, Winterkeep