Nicole B. Tyndall

"A coming-of-age story about a girl with creative aspirations and the star swimmer who charms his way into her life, centering on themes of addiction, loss, and the tumultuousness of first love--and how to find strength when everything falls apart"--

Coming Up for Air

Lulu Evensen

Before I drove over here, I sat in my bedroom and frantically scribbled three different versions of a letter. One pathetically details how much I love him; another is an apology, long and rambling; and the shortest one is furious, cursing him for his weakness- cruel and unfair

And maybe I am, a small, scared voice whispers from the depths of my mind. I shake my head, gaze unfocused on my feet.

Did he see it coming? Did he feel it, the moment he lost control? Was he afraid? But most of all: Is he going to be okay?

"Your boyfriend?" "Ex-boyfriend." My voice cracks on the word. "But yeah."

I look like a Francesca Woodman photograph: haunting and haunted.

Maybe some parts of it need to stay broken. He and I need to stay broken.

Reality is lonely and hollow. Feeling like a ghost of myself

Anytime I want to give up on remembering some elaborate formula, I picture myself in a beret, snapping shots of the hilly, Montmartre streets. It makes the decision simple: keep studying.I want to see what those places look like in real life.

"She's okay now, but eating dinner with my family- my whole family-it's not something I take for granted."

"I guess I lie...when the truth isn't good enough."

"I work harder, until the truth is good enough."

Coming Up for Air quotes

Join the club