The only thing anyone is ever trying to do is survive their minds, their histories, their dilemmas, their destinies, their days.

When unmet or perverted at a tender age, that need can warp our brains into making dangerous and even insane decisions for the rest of our lives.

Our famished yearning for love is the great yawning chasm that we keep trying to fill with other things—with drugs, alcohol, food, money, sex, cigarettes, gambling, gaming, success, perfectionism, workaholism, internet addiction, you name it.

Romantic breakups and divorces are among the primary causes of suicide, homicide, and addiction relapse, and science has now proven that people can literally die of

the simple answers have never worked for you, because you know they are not true.

can’t get into the river with you,” I said, “but I’ll walk you right to the edge of it. I will be with you every step of the way.”

Rayya: who was the one everyone followed home. Who was the one everyone fell into.

Rayya: quick to fight, quick to cry, quick to laugh, quick to forgive.

Rayya: whom I never saw coming, had not planned for, and could not control.