"Relationships are the most important thing in life, and friends are part of that." — Nicholas Sparks

We'd been raised to survive, to meet challenges, and to chase our dreams. … And we don't only love each other, but like each other as well.

Standing next to Micah, I realized that there were times when we talked not because we needed to communicate anything important, but simply because we each drew comfort from the other's voice.

"Dreams are funny like that. You want something so desperately, you somehow get it, then just as suddenly it's over. Like running races--all that training for a couple of minutes on the track. The secret, I've learned, is to appreciate the process."