The bottom line is, what defines you isn't how many times you crash, but the number of times you get back on the bike. As long as it's one more. you'… - Sarah Dessen

Wake up, Caitlin, Mr. Lensing had said. But what he didn't under­stand was that this dreamland was preferable, walking through this life half-sleeping, everything at arm's length or farther away. I understood those mermaids. I didn't care if they sang to me.All I wanted was to block out all the human voices as they called me name again and again, pulling me upward into light,to drown.

Yeah, I said, swallowing and looking out my open door, at the ocean. The answer's yes.

But if everything was always smooth and perfect, you'd get too used to that, you know? You have to have a little bit of disorganization now and then. Otherwise, you'll never really enjoy it when things go right.