State of Nature (Park Service Trilogy, #3) QUOTES

2 " Leaves will fall, cold will creep in
A circle of life that ends where it begins
It may take a thousand years and a thousand poems penned
But my hair will someday gray and my back will bend—
Then my shadow will join my body in the earth once again.

I know not the way, or even the when
Or who chooses that day we’re called away to ascend
But you bathed me in your bravery and forgave me my sins
You made a home in your heart for mine to live in—
And in return, my friend, this poem is my oath that a river of love will run through it until the very end. "

― Ryan Winfield , State of Nature (Park Service Trilogy, #3)

4 " You can say no if you dun’ wanna do it,” he finally says, “but I was thinkin’ maybe you could teach me to read.”
“Shit, Jimmy, I just gave away my reading slate to Bill.”
“I know it,” he says, “but I didn’t wanna read none of that stuff anyhow.”
“Then what did you want to read?”
“I wanna read those poems you said you might write.”
I can’t help but smile so wide my cheeks hurt.
“Okay, Jimmy. I’m going to write you a poem for your birthday, and then I’m going to teach you how to read it. "

― Ryan Winfield , State of Nature (Park Service Trilogy, #3)

6 " I meant it,” he says.
“You meant what?”
“What I said in your apartment.”
“You did?”
He nods.
We drop our cloths on the ground and hug each other. The path and the mountains and the entire world seem to slip away beneath us until only he and I remain. Then the sun rises over the peaks and warms my naked back. Of all the birthday gifts ever given in the history of the world, I can’t imagine one better than an embrace like this from your best friend. "

― Ryan Winfield , State of Nature (Park Service Trilogy, #3)

8 " When a child starts doing what’s right even though they don’t want to, that’s when he or she becomes an adult. "

― Ryan Winfield , State of Nature (Park Service Trilogy, #3)

10 " I love you.”
The words come out almost in a panic, as if there’s no time. As if he’s about to walk into Eden again, and I’ve got to say it before he disappears behind the door.
“I love you too.”
Jimmy’ response startles me back to the room, the tobacco tin forgotten in my hand. I close it and set it on the counter, afraid of whatever drug it is inside that has me hallucinating.
“I must be losing my mind,” I say, shaking my head. “I thought I just heard you say that you loved me.”
“I did,” Jimmy replies.
“You did?”
“Of course. You said it to me first. It woulda been rude to leave ya hangin’ there, wouldn’t it? "

― Ryan Winfield , State of Nature (Park Service Trilogy, #3)

12 " Subterrenes and Strange Dreams "

― Ryan Winfield , State of Nature (Park Service Trilogy, #3)

14 " Sometimes a gift too good to be true, can turn out to be too true to be good.. "

― Ryan Winfield , State of Nature (Park Service Trilogy, #3)

16 " You know, for someone who claimed to hate humankind, he sure did love himself. "

― Ryan Winfield , State of Nature (Park Service Trilogy, #3)