Releasing 10 Chloe Walsh Quotes

Because I knew deep down inside that I would sit with Lizzie Young for the rest of my life if it kept the sadness out of her eyes. If it kept her safe.

her son was my sun.

Hey, Lizzie?” “Yeah, Gibs?” “You sure you’re okay?” “Yep.” Smiling, I reached up and brushed a tear from his cheek. “I’m always okay, Gibs.

I’ll be here.” I kissed her again. “Always.” “No matter what?” “Yeah, Liz.” I kissed her softly. “No matter what.

I don’t think I like you, Lizzie Young.” He looked out the window when he whispered, “I know I do.

Claire was loud and funny, and she made me feel happy. Shannon was quiet and calm and made me feel safe.

For the rest of this life and whatever followed—be it heaven, hell, purgatory, or a thousand reincarnated lifetimes—my heart would eternally beat for Hugh Biggs.

Walking away from Lizzie Young wasn’t something I had the capacity to do.

If you slip again, I’ll be there to pull you back.

Don’t regret me, Hugh,” I said quietly. “Never,” he vowed, embracing me with tenderness. “You’re the only part of my life I can’t plan for.” He pressed a kiss to my lips. “And the only part I can’t live without.

If anything ever happened to you, it would destroy me,” I admitted, unable to make the tremble in my voice. “You are my whole world, Lizzie Young, so don’t you dare talk about not being alive.

The priest told my parents that God had taken my sister's soul to heaven, but he forgot to mention that Caoimhe had taken my soul with her. I knew she had. There was a piece of me in the ground with her. I could feel it.

Without saying a word, Hugh reached for my hand and raised it to his lips. Keeping his eyes on me, he turned it over and pressed a kiss to the scars covering my wrist.

You’re different, Lizzie Young.” “I am?” She nodded and smiled. “You’re special.” “Is that bad?” “No.” She shook her head, still smiling. “You remind me of Joe.” “Your brother?” “Yep.” She nodded again. “And that’s a very good thing.

Don’t tell me that you’re jealous of Johnny Kavanagh.

And you have me, Gibs. You will always have me.” “Brothers f-forever?” he croaked out. “Yeah, Gibs,” I promised. “And then some.

Shivering, I clenched my eyes shut and thought happy thoughts. I thought of Hugh.

There’s no such thing as normal, Liz. It doesn’t exist. It’s just a word someone invented to make everyone behave the exact same way so they can tick the exact same boxes.

Take your daughter home and love her,” the doctor replied simply. “Never underestimate the healing power of a mother’s love.

I’ll always love you, Hugh Biggs,” Liz said when she rounded the table and stopped in front of me. Inhaling a quivering breath, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to my cheek before whispering, “No matter what.” And then she was gone.

I wanted to shout don’t go, but it wouldn’t have helped either one of us. “I’ll always love you, Hugh Biggs,” Liz said when she rounded the table and stopped in front of me. Inhaling a quivering breath, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to my cheek before whispering, “No matter what.” And then she was gone.

Shivering violently, I watched him kiss my shame away. Because those scars on my wrists depicted the ugliest parts of my mind. But Hugh kissed each one like they were beautiful. Like I was beautiful. Like I was still me.

I’m not leaving, Liz.” His arm came around me, and then his lips were on my ear. “I’m staying.

Because that’s what someone does when they love someone. They put that person first.

You make me feel so much.” “In a good or bad kind of way?” “In the best kind of way.

I’ll always come back to you,” I offered, wanting to fold her into my body and keep her safe. “No matter how often I have to leave, just know that I will always come back for you.

I couldn’t stop thinking about what you told me, about how you’ve always felt like you were supposed to drown,” he explained, carefully clasping the anklet around my left ankle. “Well, I put that there to remind you that as long as I have air in my lungs, I’ll never let you go under.

Today is a good day,” I told her instead, giving her the words she needed to hear. “You are having a good day, Lizzie Young.” I pulled her closer to me, wanting to envelope her body with mine and protect her from the world. “You’re happy and safe because you’re with me, and you know I won’t let anything bad happen to you.

Hugh sighed brokenly. “Believe me, Liz, if I could fix you with sex, I would fuck you forever.

What’s so funny?” “You,” he replied. “You remind me of someone I used to know.” “Who?” “My younger self,” he surprised me by saying, before turning to face me.

Some father you are, turning your back the minute things get tough.

I know what tomorrow will bring, Hugh,” I replied. “You and me. Same as yesterday and same as today. Being best friends forever.” Smiling, I leaned in close and brushed his nose with mine. “No matter what.” “Yeah, Liz.” His lips grew into a small smile. “No matter what.

All I could do was stay. So that’s what I did. Because I knew deep down inside that I would sit with Lizzie Young for the rest of my life if it kept the sadness out of her eyes. If it kept her safe.

The sadness in her eyes was killing me, and I had to fight every instinct inside of me to not pull her into my arms. Because it felt like I had been programmed to protect this girl. The only problem was, I needed protection from her. Because no one could hurt me like Liz could.

There were moments in time, back when I was a little girl, that I thought I could be happy. Back then, contentment felt attainable. But darkness had a way of sweeping innocence up in the riptide. That's what happened to my innocence. To me.

For the survivors.

I don’t want to be me anymore.” “Why would you say that?” “Because I’m bad.

Liz didn’t respond with words, but when she placed her trembling hand on my cheek, I knew she was listening.

She’s never not going to be sad,” Gibsie replied, sniffling again. “Trust me, that kind of sadness never goes away. The world just stops seeing it.

I didn’t know how to talk to everyone. I missed Shannon. I wished she had come to the party. She didn’t like to talk a lot, and I liked that about her. Sometimes it was nice to not talk and still be friends.

Claire told us you looked like a troll.” Twisting sideways on my seat, I leaned in close and took a whiff. “Claire said you were stinky.” I pulled back and frown. “But you’re not.” He smelled like soap and strawberries. “I like how you smell.” “Uh, okay?” Hugh replied with a small laugh. “Thanks, I think?” His eyes were big, and warm, and brown, and safe.

You’re my best friend, Liz, and I never want that to stop,” he said carefully, looking nervous. “But I don’t just love you like a friend anymore.” He flicked his attention to our joined hands and roughly cleared his throat. “I love you like a boyfriend loves his girlfriend.” “You do?” “Yeah.” He nodded slowly. “So I was wondering if you might consider loving me like a girlfriend loves her boyfriend?” “I already do,” I strangled out, unable to stop the smile from spreading across my face. “I always have.

I’m not asking you to fuck your mother.” Grinning, he added, “I’ll save you the trouble and do it for ya.

It’s worse than when we give her a turn on GTA, and she stops in traffic at the red light.” “Because the red light means stop, Hugh Andrew Biggs.

You’re the only part of my life I can’t plan for.” He pressed a kiss to my lips. “And the only part I can’t live without.

That was the thing about cheating; whether it was accidental or on purpose, it hurt just the same.

Call her a bitch one more time and you’re going to find out how much on her side I am,

Hugh Biggs had whiskey eyes that didn’t look away.

Because her son was my sun.

I’ll never stop being sorry for betraying you,” she said, holding her head in her hands. “And I’ll never forgive myself for killing us.

I’d always known I loved Hugh, but my feelings for him had deepened over the summer. Like the roots of the tall oak tree in the meadow that sprawled deep beneath the surface of the earth, the love I felt for this boy had taken ahold of my heart to the point where I honestly thought I might die without him.

You’ll be there when I come home?” Pain. It scorched me. “Of course.” A few minutes later, when they were gone and I was left alone with Catherine, I heard her say, “You lied to her, didn’t you?” Tears filled her eyes. “You won’t be there when she comes home.” Shaking my head, I roughly wiped my tears away. “I’m sorry.

That’s how I knew that I would never get over this boy. For the rest of this life and whatever followed—be it heaven, hell, purgatory, or a thousand reincarnated lifetimes—my heart would eternally beat for Hugh Biggs.

You are my baby, and I will always look after you.” She tickled under my chin and smiled. “And you must never let anyone make you feel like there is something wrong with you.” She tickled my chin again. “Do you understand me, Lizzie?

THE MOMENT I LOCKED EYES ON HER IN THE COURTYARD, EVERY HARD-EARNED SLIVER of my battered pride evaporated. As for my heart? It returned to her like a faithful boomerang. Because unlike my brain, it couldn’t be tricked into forgetting about her.

My heart didn’t have an eject button; therefore, she would never lose her place inside of it. She just had to change spots if I ever found someone else. If I ever dared to open myself up to that kind of love again. If it was even possible. Something I very much doubted.

I happen to adore that complicated mind of yours.” “It’s not complicated—it’s crazy.” “You couldn’t be more wrong if you tried,” he replied in a confident tone. “You’re going to live a great life, Liz. A little complicated, sure, and maybe challenging at times, but it’ll be a fucking great one.

Milady is too kind,” he replied in his playful, brave-knight accent, before climbing to his feet and bowing dramatically. “From this day forth, dear Wife, this sword shall be sworn to you.” He placed his stick at my feet and bowed again. “I shall slay all your enemies, shield you from dragons, and protect you with my life.” “And I shall protect you with mine, dear Husband.” Snatching the stick, I jumped to my feet and swished it around. “Have no fear, brave knight, for I shall be your secret weapon in every battle.

I had to make my family love me. If I didn’t, they were going to send me away. “Stop fighting it,” a voice in my head commanded, and I flinched when the watery image of a woman’s face flashed before my eyes. “Just give in. It’ll all be better then.” Oh no. The voice was back. The scary voice. The one that made me wet the bed. The one that made me fight.

Even as a toddler, your dad used to say there was a cranky, old pensioner trapped inside of you.

Breaking down in front of him, my sister covered her face with her hands and screamed, “I wish I was dead!

And I’ll text you back.” Shoving her hand into the pocket of her skirt, she pulled out a phone and waved it in front of me, cheeks reddening. “I have credit.

Because I won’t break it.” “But what if someone else breaks it?” “Not going to happen.” “How come?” “Because I’ve got it locked away safe and sound.

We might not have had the same parents, but Gerard Gibson was my brother.

I’m really sorry for not taking accountability sooner, but knowing that I hurt you is the hardest pill I’ve ever had to swallow.

She was my chosen field, my strongest subject, and I was sure no other heart could be a specialist in the field of Elizabeth Eleanor Young.

Because I knew deep down inside that I would sit with Lizzie Young for the rest of my life if it kept the sadness out of her eyes.

If wit was shit, you’d be constipated.

I need you here, Liz,” I croaked out. “I need you.

I would do anything to go back in time and change our ending. To stop it from happening. And if there was any way I could get past it, I would, but…

I fucking loved you enough to put you first. Even when it was hard to do the right thing. I fucking did it. Because that’s what someone does when they love someone. They put that person first.

Aside from the fact that you’re my girlfriend and I adore you, you’ve been my best friend since I was seven. You’re the keeper of all my secrets and the only girl on this planet I would willingly spend my time with. I absolutely do need you, Liz.

I know you need to stay away from me,” she breathed, body racking with tremors. “And I know why you can’t be my friend anymore, but I just want you to know that I am so grateful to have had you in my life.” A pained sob escaped her when she said, “I’ll never have a greater friend, Hugh Biggs, or a greater love.

Yeah,” Joey agreed with a dangerous chuckle, closing the space she put between them. “But I’m a scumbag that’ll tear your fucking world apart if you touch my sister again.

What’s wrong with your sister?” Mark asked after dinner when I walked into the kitchen and saw them kissing. “Selective mutism,” Caoimhe replied, filling a glass of water from the tap.

I was in the relationship, too, and I wasn’t fucking ready for sex, okay? I gave you nine fucking years of my life, and you fuck a randomer in my bed?

No, Liz, I’m afraid to fuck you because I don’t know which version of you I’d be fucking!

The hypocrisy in this house was stifling and I’d had enough.

Because if you ruin her reputation, I will bury you.

You have never been a mean girl, Claire, and I’m never going to stop hanging out with you,” I promised, squeezing her hand. “You’re the Mario to my Luigi, after all.

Like I gave a damn. I wouldn’t have pissed on the prick if he was on fire.

Letting my brain rewire the pathway from mental pain to physical pain. Taking in a few sacred moments of peace.

Like he knew me. Like I was his. Like I belonged entirely to him.

Nope, it was clear to my poor, fickle heart that only one person could pull the strings of my heart like this.

I’ll always pick you, Liz.” Hugh’s arm came around my waist and he pulled me closer to his chest. “You’ll always be first choice.” “For trips?” “For everything.

Yeah, but do you think it would be okay if I was the only boy who got to hold your hand?

Blood or not, you’re my baby brother and you always will be.

Lizzie must know that, too,” she pushed. “Gerard is her friend. They’ve been thick as thieves for years.

Every night, I waited for my girlfriend to beckon me to her bedside, and then I listened intently, willing that brilliant mind of hers to throw me a bone to work with. Just one tiny scrap of a coherent memory so I could help her.

Anyone else would have turned on their heels and bolted, but not Hugh. He stayed despite the tears, trauma, and tantrums.

There were moments in time, back when I was a little girl, that I thought I could be happy. Back then, contentment felt attainable. But darkness had a way of sweeping innocence up in the riptide.

Everything went dark once the monster crawled into my bed. There were only glimmers of hope, fleeting flecks of sunshine that teased my soul. Until she died and took my last flicker of trust to the grave with her.

Everyone wanted to sit with Claire Biggs and be her best friend, but she only wanted to sit with us and be our best friend.

So you never know, son,” Dad teased. “One of these names could be the name you say on your wedding day.

He was breathing. In that moment, I vowed to never sit back and do nothing. I would never be a statue like Mark or incapable like Sadhbh and Keith. For the rest of my life, I would help. I would save people. I would bring them back to life. Like my father brought Gibs back from his watery grave. Like my mother brought his heart back to life.

Yep,” he agreed, draping his arm over my shoulders. “And in twenty years’ time, when we come back here to visit, we can show this to our kids.

I would never say it out loud, because I didn’t want to embarrass the lad, but I was thrilled he had finally found his wings. He would always have me in his corner, no matter what, but seeing him making his way at school, and making friends for himself, made me so fucking proud. Because Johnny Kavanagh was his friend. Yeah, the four of us all hung out at lunch together, and Feely and I considered Johnny our friend, too, but everyone knew where Cap’s loyalties rested. With our Gibs.

If Cap told you he would do something, it got done, and if he told you he’d be somewhere, you didn’t have to worry about him not showing up. His word was good, his heart was gold, his love life was private, his lips were sealed, and his devotion to rugby was unmatched.

There’s more to being a father than writing checks.

But darkness had a way of sweeping innocence up in the riptide.