This particular snippet is incredibly important to me because — if you’ve known me for a while — I typically exhibit a shy, withdrawn personality. In this novel, which I am developing for my senior project, I write the main character, Lucy, with a similar disposition, because I wanted to emphasize a certain point. Think you know what it is?

***

“Bravery is a result of standing up and doing the right thing, not the other way around,” Russell says, his tone light and hopeful. “Do what you know in your heart to be right, and then worry about being courageous.”

“How very eloquent of you,” I tell him as the words swarm inside me, inciting a dangerous desire to not disappoint him.

“Thanks. My dad’s advice, actually.”

“Nice.”