"This is chemical burn," Tyler says, "and it will hurt worse than you've ever been burned. Worse than a hundred cigarettes."

The kiss shines on the back of my hand.

"You'll have a scar," Tyler says.

"With enough soap, " Tyler says, "you could blow up the whole world. Now remember your promise."

And Tyler pours the lye.

...

Combined with water, lye heats to over two hundred degrees, and as it heats it burns into the back of my hand, and Tyler places his fingers on one hand over my fingers, our hands spread on the lap of my bloodstained pants, and Tyler says to pay attention because this is the greatest moment of my life.

"Because everything up to now is a story," Tyler says, "and everything after now is a story."

This is the greatest moment of our life.

...

"Open your eyes," Tyler says, and his face is shining with tears.

"Congratulations, " Tyler says. "You're a step closer to hitting bottom."