One of my roommates, Rafael, he's an expert on monsters. Not that he talks about them. I can just tell. People who have monsters recognize each other. They know each other without even saying a word.

People who have monsters recognize each other. They know each other without even saying a word.

See, the thing about that word, Sharkey, the F-word, is that sometimes I make that word do too much work. I mean, I say that word as if it clearly articulates what I’m really feeling. And it doesn’t. It’s a shortcut.

What is it with you and that book?"
Rafael laughed. "We have a personal relationship.

This is my problem. I want other people to tell me how they feel. But I'm not so sure I want to return the favor.

I had learned to hide what I felt. No, that's not true. There was no learning involved. I had been born knowing how to hide what I felt.