Andrea’s final note filled every corner of the auditorium. The audience breathed it in and kept it in their chests, reluctant to let it go. Those who could no longer hold their breath released Andrea’s song with a sigh. Some quickly wiped away tears; some let them fall.
Andrea stood up and took a bow. Applause roared around her. The loudest came from a tall blond man in the front row who managed to clap while balancing a girl with auburn curls on his shoulders and carrying her little brother in the crook of his arm. Andrea blew a kiss to her family, committing every detail of the evening to the journal in her mind. She filled an entire page with the love that lit Nate’s eyes. She was good at remembering things that made her smile.
For Oma and Opa
Acknowledgments
Oma. Opa. Sibling units. Grandma. Capitol Folks. Rez. PV. Pinky. Dino. Cathy. Johnny. Tina. Jebot. Rochelle. Fino. Mutya. Jinggoy. Kris. Jake. Pierra. Toto. Elay. Tennant. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being there for me through all the ups and downs of this adventure.
Steph, where do I begin? Thank you for being the most patient and persistent person I know. Thank you for never losing faith in me and this book. You are a rock star.
Shauna, thank you for taking a chance on this little story and making it shine. You’ve taught me so much, and I will forever be grateful.
A huge thank-you to the wonderful team at Ballantine who helped bring this book to life.
And, finally, to my gravity, the man I am blessed to wake up next to every morning: Thank you for the calculus and wormhole tutorials, tireless back rubs, the home-cooked gourmet meals, and the depthless love, that kept me sane, happy, and fed throughout this amazing journey. You keep me standing even when the world shakes beneath my feet.
Ad majorem Dei gloriam.
By Samantha Sotto
Love and Gravity
Before and Ever After
PHOTO: © TOTO LABRADOR
SAMANTHA SOTTO was born in Manila, Philippines. She fell in love with Europe’s crumbling manors and history when she moved to the Netherlands as a teenager and studied marketing at the Leiden campus of Webster University. She later returned to the Philippines and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications from the Ateneo de Manila University. She went on to pursue an almost decadelong career in brand management. Her fascination with Europe never faded, prompting pilgrimages during various states of her bank account’s health. She has spent the night huddled next to her backpack on a Greek beach, honeymooned in Paris, pub-crawled through London, and attended business meetings in Düsseldorf in the pleasant company of a corporate credit card.
samanthasotto.com
Facebook.com/​samanthasotto
@samanthasotto
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