In fact she was quite bad and according to Jas she was naughty at school, but no one seems to remember that now she is all dead and perfect.

If envy is red and doubt is black then happiness is brown. I looked from the little brown stone to the tiny brown freckle to her huge brown eyes.

Spread those strong wings of yours. Fly.

Let's pretend for just one moment that could actually happen. You close your eyes and I'll close mine and let's dream the same dream across the Atlantic, lighting up the darkness between us. Can you see it, Stu? Can you see us up there, shining in all the black?

I stared up at the sky and raised my middle finger, just in case God was watching. I don't like being spied on.

Sometimes when I wake up, I forget that she's gone and then I remember and my heart drops like it does when you miss a step or trip over a kerb.

Doesn't matter what language you speak or what clothes you wear. Some things don't change. Families. Friends. Lovers. They're the same in every city in every country in every continent of the world.

That's not how you're going to live, Bird Girl. Not on my account. Spread those strong wings of yours. Fly.