the bumblebee bookshelf

Still thinking about how Grace was always treated as disposable. Kicked out of his passion field for his honesty—underpaid as a (very good) teacher, to the point he can’t afford a car—left alone in a room full of argon with a sample that might kill him, while all the indispensable guys who put him there stood on the other side of the glass and watched. Shoved screaming into a mission that would kill him. And then, then this bonkers little alien who just met him gladly trades years off his life (via extended return mission) to save him. Runs burning through deadly air to keep him from dying. Chooses finally to weave their lives together forever and recreate Grace’s best dreams of Earth to make him happy. No wonder Grace told Rocky he doesn’t have to get him a gift, he’s given him everything. To one little spider guy, Grace is irreplaceable. That’s love.

Love love love that Grace is staring at the "who would you die for?" line on his whiteboard right before Rocky shows up in his xenonite container. Yes hello here is someone so important to you that you would sacrifice your life for him. He's in a hamster ball on your doorstep and he's about to run into your spaceship and insult your house and wreck your shit. You would die for him in every lifetime, and only because of that do you end up living.

the aroace read of ryland grace is so personal and haunting. "you don't even have a dog." was it not enough to love the world for the sake of living in it. was it not enough to live for the thrill of discovery. was it not enough to smile at your students. was it not enough to be afraid.

there are tuesdays happening that have never happened before