You ask everybody you know: How long does it usually take to get over it?There are many formulas. One year for every year you dated. Two years for every year you dated. It’s just a matter of will power: The day you decide it’s over, it’s over. You never get over it.
Catalog
Book
This Is How You Lose Her
Finalist for the 2012 National Book AwardA Time and People Top 10 Book of 2012 Finalist for the 2012 Story Prize Chosen as a notable or best book of the year by The New York Times, Entertainment Wee
Characters
You must love her because many have tried and failed. And she wants to know that she is worthy to be loved, that she is worthy to be kept.
You must love her because many have tried and failed. And she wants to know that she is worthy to be loved, that she is worthy to be kept.
Sometimes a start is all we ever get.
You must love her because many have tried and failed. And she wants to know that she is worthy to be loved, that she is worthy to be kept.
You don’t want to let go, but don't want to be hurt, either. It's not a great place to be but what can I tell you?
She has a mouth like unswept glass – when you least expect it she cuts you.
I was staring at you and you were staring at me and right then it was sort of like love, wasn’t it?
I’m like everybody else: weak, full of mistakes, but basically good.
You must love her because many have tried and failed. And she wants to know that she is worthy to be loved, that she is worthy to be kept.
Then you look at her and smile a smile your dissembling face will remember until the day you die. Baby, you say, baby, this is part of my novel.
We hurt each other too well to let it drop.
The half-life of love is forever.
Then we fucked so that we could pretend that nothing hurtful had just happened.
You don't want to let go, but don't want to be hurt, either.
That's about it. In the months that follow you bend to the work, because it feels like hope, like grace—and because you know in your lying cheater's heart that sometimes a start is all we ever get.
She just seemed to take it, never gave anything off, not light, not heat.
You'd still have me, you tried to reassure her, but Paloma looked at you like the apocalypse would be preferable.
You must learn her. You must know the reason why she is silent. You must trace her weakest spots. You must write to her. You must remind her that you are there.You must know how long it takes for her to give up. You must be there to hold her when she is about to. You must love her because many have…
Do you remember? When the fights seemed to go on and on, and always ended with us in bed, tearing at each other like maybe that could change everything.