Jena

“When you said my name . . . the stone within me suffered a crack. And I don't regret that it did, because I had forgotten how vital it is to be known for who you are, and not for who you pretend to be. I had forgotten how good it is to be seen, even with flaws and scars. I wanted you to see me.”
― Rebecca Ross, Dreams Lie Beneath

“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

“The comforting idea that “the old will die and the young will forget”—a remark attributed to David Ben-Gurion, probably mistakenly—expresses one of the deepest aspirations of Israeli leaders after 1948. It was not to be.”
― Rashid Khalidi, The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917–2017

“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