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Quotes by Iranian Authors

"When you are here, God is near."
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Kamand Kojouri
"When you are here, God is near."
"Poetry isn't an island, it is the bridge. Poetry isn't a ship, it is the lifeboat. Poetry isn't swimming. Poetry is water."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Poetry isn't an island, it is the bridge. Poetry isn't a ship, it is the lifeboat. Poetry isn't swimming. Poetry is water."
"Lift your hips for me, love."
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Tahereh Mafi
"Lift your hips for me, love."
"We're too different now. We want different things. And this?" I say nodding at our hands. "All this managed to prove is that you are extremely good at turning me off."
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Tahereh Mafi
"We're too different now. We want different things. And this?" I say nodding at our hands. "All this managed to prove is that you are extremely good at turning me off."
"The only existence I know now is the one I was given. An echo of what used to be."
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Tahereh Mafi
"The only existence I know now is the one I was given. An echo of what used to be."
"I was mistaken when I said you live in my heart. How absurd I was when you live in my fingertips so that everything I touch is you. How foolish I was when you live in my toes so that everywhere I go there's you. How senseless of me to say you live in my heart when you breathe in my lungs, walk on my mind, and drink in my mouth. I came to pen another poem for you, but even every unwritten poem is you."
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Kamand Kojouri
"I was mistaken when I said you live in my heart. How absurd I was when you live in my fingertips so that everything I touch is you. How foolish I was when you live in my toes so that everywhere I go there's you. How senseless of me to say you live in my heart when you breathe in my lungs, walk on my mind, and drink in my mouth. I came to pen another poem for you, but even every unwritten poem is you."
"Our daily prayer ought to be: Please universe, help me help myself and help me show others how to help themselves."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Our daily prayer ought to be: Please universe, help me help myself and help me show others how to help themselves."
"This is a day of celebration!Today, we are divorcing the pastand marrying the present.Dance,and you will find Godin every room.Today, we are divorcing resentmentand marrying forgiveness.Sing,and God will find you in every tune.Today, we are divorcing indifferenceand marrying love.Drink, and play that tambourine against your thighs.We have so much celebrating to do!"
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Kamand Kojouri
"This is a day of celebration!Today, we are divorcing the pastand marrying the present.Dance,and you will find Godin every room.Today, we are divorcing resentmentand marrying forgiveness.Sing,and God will find you in every tune.Today, we are divorcing indifferenceand marrying love.Drink, and play that tambourine against your thighs.We have so much celebrating to do!"
"I don't know why everyoneis still trying to find out whether heaven and hell exist.Why do we need more evidence?They exist here on this very Earth.Heaven is standing atop Mount Qasiounoverlooking the Damascene sightswith the wind carrying Qabbani'sdulcet words all around you.And hell is only four hours away in Aleppo where children's cries drown out the explosions of mortar bombsuntil they lose their voice,their families, and their limbs.Yes, hell certainly does existright now, at this moment,as I pen this poem. And all we're doingto extinguish this hellfireis sighing, shrugging, liking, and sharing.Tell me: what exactly does that makeus? Are we any better than the gatekeepers of hell?"
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Kamand Kojouri
"I don't know why everyoneis still trying to find out whether heaven and hell exist.Why do we need more evidence?They exist here on this very Earth.Heaven is standing atop Mount Qasiounoverlooking the Damascene sightswith the wind carrying Qabbani'sdulcet words all around you.And hell is only four hours away in Aleppo where children's cries drown out the explosions of mortar bombsuntil they lose their voice,their families, and their limbs.Yes, hell certainly does existright now, at this moment,as I pen this poem. And all we're doingto extinguish this hellfireis sighing, shrugging, liking, and sharing.Tell me: what exactly does that makeus? Are we any better than the gatekeepers of hell?"
"Forgiveness is a transformative act because it asks you to be a more empathetic and compassionate person, thereby making you better than the person you were when you were first hurt."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Forgiveness is a transformative act because it asks you to be a more empathetic and compassionate person, thereby making you better than the person you were when you were first hurt."
"Here's another poem,like all others before and after,dedicated to you.There isn't anything left to be saidbut I will spend my lifetrying to put you into words.You who is every goodness,every optimismand hope.Your love is a better fate for methan anything I could wish for.If you are a part of me, then you're the best part.And if you're separate from me, then you are my destination.But I've become a weary traveller,so please,let us never be apart."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Here's another poem,like all others before and after,dedicated to you.There isn't anything left to be saidbut I will spend my lifetrying to put you into words.You who is every goodness,every optimismand hope.Your love is a better fate for methan anything I could wish for.If you are a part of me, then you're the best part.And if you're separate from me, then you are my destination.But I've become a weary traveller,so please,let us never be apart."
"When, at last, I ceased to be myself, I came to be."
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Kamand Kojouri
"When, at last, I ceased to be myself, I came to be."
"Put down your stones. Why are you breaking the window when God has left the door wide open? If you are afraid, lover, follow me. I will guide the way."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Put down your stones. Why are you breaking the window when God has left the door wide open? If you are afraid, lover, follow me. I will guide the way."
"Be like the sun who fell in love with the moon and shared all his light."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Be like the sun who fell in love with the moon and shared all his light."
"To live in love is my life's purpose."
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Kamand Kojouri
"To live in love is my life's purpose."
"What is this lovethat makes me see beauty,and makes every beautiful thing bring you back to me?What is this lovethat makes me declare 'I love you'even though I uttered itonly a moment ago?What is this love that keeps growing even when my chest is soreand it hurts to love you any more?Tell me:How am I to find what this love iswhen it was the one to find you, me, this verse, and this universe?"
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Kamand Kojouri
"What is this lovethat makes me see beauty,and makes every beautiful thing bring you back to me?What is this lovethat makes me declare 'I love you'even though I uttered itonly a moment ago?What is this love that keeps growing even when my chest is soreand it hurts to love you any more?Tell me:How am I to find what this love iswhen it was the one to find you, me, this verse, and this universe?"
"Disappointment is a blessing. If you were never disappointed, you'd never know what was important to you."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Disappointment is a blessing. If you were never disappointed, you'd never know what was important to you."
"The guilt you felt when you were smiling and others were suffering, the guilt you felt when you were petty with friends and impatient with your parents, when you were rude to your teachers and didn't stand up for strangers, that guilt is marvellous. It proves that you are human, that you want to be better. Thank this guilt for teaching you, for making you aware. And now endeavour to better yourself. It is a lifelong work to become the person we want to be."
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Kamand Kojouri
"The guilt you felt when you were smiling and others were suffering, the guilt you felt when you were petty with friends and impatient with your parents, when you were rude to your teachers and didn't stand up for strangers, that guilt is marvellous. It proves that you are human, that you want to be better. Thank this guilt for teaching you, for making you aware. And now endeavour to better yourself. It is a lifelong work to become the person we want to be."
"Wake up. If your eyes are sleeping then wipe them gently. You need to be awake for this. It is a matter of life and death. Wake up! If your mind is sleeping then shake it quickly. You need to be awake for this. It is a matter of life and death. Wake up, I said! If your heart is sleeping then beat your chest! You need to be awake for life! You need to be awake for love! It is a matter of living and being alive."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Wake up. If your eyes are sleeping then wipe them gently. You need to be awake for this. It is a matter of life and death. Wake up! If your mind is sleeping then shake it quickly. You need to be awake for this. It is a matter of life and death. Wake up, I said! If your heart is sleeping then beat your chest! You need to be awake for life! You need to be awake for love! It is a matter of living and being alive."
"Everywhere I go, your beauty spills into my day. The trees were never this verdant. The birdsong never this sweet."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Everywhere I go, your beauty spills into my day. The trees were never this verdant. The birdsong never this sweet."
"She was in awe of all his work. 'How do you do it?" she asked.He smiled and said, 'By loving you."
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Kamand Kojouri
"She was in awe of all his work. 'How do you do it?" she asked.He smiled and said, 'By loving you."
"They tell us the only way to move on is to forget."Forgive, they say.Realise that you deserve better.That maybe they deserve better.You can't fight fire with fire.Extinguish it once and for all."Do not look back," they say.They don't tell you that only one thing is needed. Only one:love.When you are filled to the brim with love,you only emanate love.You become lover and love itself.Only then will you love even the very people you wish to hate."
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Kamand Kojouri
"They tell us the only way to move on is to forget."Forgive, they say.Realise that you deserve better.That maybe they deserve better.You can't fight fire with fire.Extinguish it once and for all."Do not look back," they say.They don't tell you that only one thing is needed. Only one:love.When you are filled to the brim with love,you only emanate love.You become lover and love itself.Only then will you love even the very people you wish to hate."
"It is your ego that needs to explain itself. The self just is."
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Kamand Kojouri
"It is your ego that needs to explain itself. The self just is."
"I know you not quite wellYet I foolishly surrender my mind to you. Slowly and carefully you have cast a spellNow my virgin heart only longs for you. There is no need to push, I am already falling. Once proudly tall, I'm no longer standing. Knowing well that I am doomed to misery,I will roll the dice and take delight in my suffering."
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Kamand Kojouri
"I know you not quite wellYet I foolishly surrender my mind to you. Slowly and carefully you have cast a spellNow my virgin heart only longs for you. There is no need to push, I am already falling. Once proudly tall, I'm no longer standing. Knowing well that I am doomed to misery,I will roll the dice and take delight in my suffering."
"Now is not the time for bigots and racists. No time for sexists and homophobes. Now, more than ever, is the time for ARTISTS. It's time for us to rise above and to create. To show humanity. To spread hope. We must prevent society from destroying itself, from losing its way. Now is the time for love."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Now is not the time for bigots and racists. No time for sexists and homophobes. Now, more than ever, is the time for ARTISTS. It's time for us to rise above and to create. To show humanity. To spread hope. We must prevent society from destroying itself, from losing its way. Now is the time for love."
"Two great things happened to me. One was that I survived. The other was that I met you, because I knew why."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Two great things happened to me. One was that I survived. The other was that I met you, because I knew why."
"Why are we afraid of the silence that ensues after our death? Wasn't it the same silence we endured before birth? Isn't it the same silence we revel in when we are completely immersed in the present moment? Let us not be afraid."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Why are we afraid of the silence that ensues after our death? Wasn't it the same silence we endured before birth? Isn't it the same silence we revel in when we are completely immersed in the present moment? Let us not be afraid."
"It doesn't matter whether you are looking for a reason to be happy or sad, you will always find it."
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Kamand Kojouri
"It doesn't matter whether you are looking for a reason to be happy or sad, you will always find it."
"I want to be the friend you fall hopelessly in love with. The one you take into your arms and into your bed and into the private world you keep trapped in your head. I want to be that kind of friend. The one who will memorize the things you say as well as the shape of your lips when you say them. I want to know every curve, every freckle, every shiver of your body. I want to know where to touch you, I want to know how to touch you. I want to know convince you to design a smile just for me. Yes, I do want to be your friend. I want to be your best friend in the entire world."
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Tahereh Mafi
"I want to be the friend you fall hopelessly in love with. The one you take into your arms and into your bed and into the private world you keep trapped in your head. I want to be that kind of friend. The one who will memorize the things you say as well as the shape of your lips when you say them. I want to know every curve, every freckle, every shiver of your body. I want to know where to touch you, I want to know how to touch you. I want to know convince you to design a smile just for me. Yes, I do want to be your friend. I want to be your best friend in the entire world."
"Kenji has a hand pressed to his mouth, desperately trying to suppress a smile. He's shaking his head, holding up a hand in apology. And then he breaks, laughing out loud, snorting as he tries to muffle the sound. "I'm sorry, he says, pressing his lips together, shaking his head again. "This is not a funny moment. It's not. I'm not laughing."
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Tahereh Mafi
"Kenji has a hand pressed to his mouth, desperately trying to suppress a smile. He's shaking his head, holding up a hand in apology. And then he breaks, laughing out loud, snorting as he tries to muffle the sound. "I'm sorry, he says, pressing his lips together, shaking his head again. "This is not a funny moment. It's not. I'm not laughing."
"I never wanted to be a martyr-even for love. I don't want to die for love. I want to live for it."
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Kamand Kojouri
"I never wanted to be a martyr-even for love. I don't want to die for love. I want to live for it."
"A poetess is not as selfishas you assume.After months of agonising over her marriage of words-the bride-and spaces-the groom,she knows that as soonas she has penned the poem,it's yours to consume.So, without giving it a think,she blows on the inkand the letters fly awaylike dandelions on a windy day,landing on hands and lips, on hearts and hips.But more often than not,you can easily spotthem trodden and forgotten,becoming sodden and rotten.Yet, she will continue to makewhat's others to takebecause selfishness is not the mark of a poetess."
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Kamand Kojouri
"A poetess is not as selfishas you assume.After months of agonising over her marriage of words-the bride-and spaces-the groom,she knows that as soonas she has penned the poem,it's yours to consume.So, without giving it a think,she blows on the inkand the letters fly awaylike dandelions on a windy day,landing on hands and lips, on hearts and hips.But more often than not,you can easily spotthem trodden and forgotten,becoming sodden and rotten.Yet, she will continue to makewhat's others to takebecause selfishness is not the mark of a poetess."
"I will drive the world crazywith love poems for you.So they can know how magnificent you areand how crazy I am."
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Kamand Kojouri
"I will drive the world crazywith love poems for you.So they can know how magnificent you areand how crazy I am."
"Is it odd, my love, that I envy others who have not met you for the intoxication they have yet to experience? Is it odd that I wish to witness you with new eyes so I may have the pleasure of falling for you all over again? I am grateful, so grateful, for knowing the meaning of your various sighs. For being the cause of your ecstatic cries. But, if only for a moment, I wish to let you fall out of my hands so that I may catch you again. You, my love, are the oddity. You are my exception."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Is it odd, my love, that I envy others who have not met you for the intoxication they have yet to experience? Is it odd that I wish to witness you with new eyes so I may have the pleasure of falling for you all over again? I am grateful, so grateful, for knowing the meaning of your various sighs. For being the cause of your ecstatic cries. But, if only for a moment, I wish to let you fall out of my hands so that I may catch you again. You, my love, are the oddity. You are my exception."
"Maybe love at first sight isn't what we think it is. Maybe it's recognising a soul we loved in a past life and falling in love with them again."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Maybe love at first sight isn't what we think it is. Maybe it's recognising a soul we loved in a past life and falling in love with them again."
"I don't mind losing in this game of love, if it means You will be the winner."
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Kamand Kojouri
"I don't mind losing in this game of love, if it means You will be the winner."
"Die every night so in the morning you are reborn."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Die every night so in the morning you are reborn."
"Always ask yourself: "What will happen if I say nothing?""
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Kamand Kojouri
"Always ask yourself: "What will happen if I say nothing?""
"You do not have to be beautiful.You do not even have to be intelligent.All you have to do is practice kindness,for that is our purpose."
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Kamand Kojouri
"You do not have to be beautiful.You do not even have to be intelligent.All you have to do is practice kindness,for that is our purpose."
"Juliette." I close my eyes. He says, "I don't want you to call me Warner anymore." I open my eyes. "I want you to know me," he says, breathless, his fingers pushing a stray strand of hair away from my face. "I don't want to be Warner with you," he says. "I want it to be different now. I want you to call me Aaron."
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Tahereh Mafi
"Juliette." I close my eyes. He says, "I don't want you to call me Warner anymore." I open my eyes. "I want you to know me," he says, breathless, his fingers pushing a stray strand of hair away from my face. "I don't want to be Warner with you," he says. "I want it to be different now. I want you to call me Aaron."
"They want to knowwho I write these poems for.Tell them it's for all loversbecause I don't see a differencebetween our loveand their love."
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Kamand Kojouri
"They want to knowwho I write these poems for.Tell them it's for all loversbecause I don't see a differencebetween our loveand their love."
"Because at nightwhen others are sleeping, I drown myself in poetry."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Because at nightwhen others are sleeping, I drown myself in poetry."
"I see them and they see me but the lovers - we recognise one another: there is light in our eyes."
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Kamand Kojouri
"I see them and they see me but the lovers - we recognise one another: there is light in our eyes."
"Why wait to forgive and let go only after you have sufficiently wallowed in your despair? Why not forgive and let go now?"
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Kamand Kojouri
"Why wait to forgive and let go only after you have sufficiently wallowed in your despair? Why not forgive and let go now?"
"Missing you,I missed a part of meI shared with you that's now gone.Missing you, when really, it was the way you made me feeland the things you made us do.Missing you I shouldn't be.But I can't help missing who I was with you.Missing you,I missed and missed so much of the world and wasn't even missed in return."
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Kamand Kojouri
"Missing you,I missed a part of meI shared with you that's now gone.Missing you, when really, it was the way you made me feeland the things you made us do.Missing you I shouldn't be.But I can't help missing who I was with you.Missing you,I missed and missed so much of the world and wasn't even missed in return."
"One sip of this wine and you will go mad with drunkenness. You will drop your masks and tear your clothes - destroying everything that separates you from the Lover. Once you taste the fruit of this vine, you will be kicked out of the city of yourself. You will forget the world. You will forget yourself. I tell you: you will become a madman who wanders the streets looking for the Lover once you drink this Wine of Love."
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Kamand Kojouri
"One sip of this wine and you will go mad with drunkenness. You will drop your masks and tear your clothes - destroying everything that separates you from the Lover. Once you taste the fruit of this vine, you will be kicked out of the city of yourself. You will forget the world. You will forget yourself. I tell you: you will become a madman who wanders the streets looking for the Lover once you drink this Wine of Love."
"You are not who you think.You're not even the thinker.You are the one conscious of the thought."
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Kamand Kojouri
"You are not who you think.You're not even the thinker.You are the one conscious of the thought."
"I have become intoxicated again.You are such a potent wine, my friend.To escape your withdrawal effects,tomorrow I will drink in excess.Alas, why make me love?I was aware, conscious, and sensible before.I am ill by cause of this illusion.The devil plays tricks on me more and more.I was a harp you immaculately plucked at will.Your score, the nightingale song withinnotes composed to imprison and bear me wings.Oh, if only they could hear how it sings!I am now beyond parched.My strings left untouched.You are no longer an oasis, my friend,but a mirage soon coming to an end."
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Kamand Kojouri
"I have become intoxicated again.You are such a potent wine, my friend.To escape your withdrawal effects,tomorrow I will drink in excess.Alas, why make me love?I was aware, conscious, and sensible before.I am ill by cause of this illusion.The devil plays tricks on me more and more.I was a harp you immaculately plucked at will.Your score, the nightingale song withinnotes composed to imprison and bear me wings.Oh, if only they could hear how it sings!I am now beyond parched.My strings left untouched.You are no longer an oasis, my friend,but a mirage soon coming to an end."
"They took my booksbecause my message was love.They took my penbecause my words were love.Then they took my voicebecause my song was love.Soon they'll take myselfso nothing remains.But they don't know that when I'm gonemy love will stay."
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Kamand Kojouri
"They took my booksbecause my message was love.They took my penbecause my words were love.Then they took my voicebecause my song was love.Soon they'll take myselfso nothing remains.But they don't know that when I'm gonemy love will stay."
"And I've fallen.So hard.I've hit the ground. Gone right through it. Never in my life have I felt this. Nothing like this. I've felt shame and cowardice, weakness and strength. I've known terror and indifference, self-hate and general disgust. I've seen things that cannot be unseen.And yet I've known nothing like this terrible, horrible, paralyzing feeling. I feel crippled. Desperate and out of control. And it keeps getting worse. Every day I feel sick. Empty and somehow aching.Love is a heartless bastard."
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Tahereh Mafi
"And I've fallen.So hard.I've hit the ground. Gone right through it. Never in my life have I felt this. Nothing like this. I've felt shame and cowardice, weakness and strength. I've known terror and indifference, self-hate and general disgust. I've seen things that cannot be unseen.And yet I've known nothing like this terrible, horrible, paralyzing feeling. I feel crippled. Desperate and out of control. And it keeps getting worse. Every day I feel sick. Empty and somehow aching.Love is a heartless bastard."
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