“Tears sting my eyes once more, building up and rolling over my cheeks with the heat of a dying star. Isnt that what death is? Its forgetting. Its letting go. We make peace with the dead to say good...”

“I dont have to let anyone use me. I dont have to bend the truth. Even if Im not ready to forgive just yet, I dont have to be tied to my scars, to the people who wounded me, or to the anger and fear...”

“Nerve endings. Thats what it all comes down to. Billions of rooted synapses, like trees entwined in erratic soil. Lightning strikes every millionth of a second, the charges scattering across the ga...”

“It was truebut it was harsh. And it feels like maybe a harsh truth can be as hurtful as a lie.”

“I wonder if this is how it feels to grow old. Knowing that time is still passing but youre no longer a part of it.”

“How much dust can a body make? Little specks of death. Measuring life in millimeters.”

“I finally know the difference between pleasing and loving, obeying and respecting. It has taken me so many years to be okay with being different, and with being this alive, this intense. (xxvi)”

“Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence.Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance.Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence.Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.”

“Birthdays could be such a bummer when you were older than the country you lived in.”

“All the most powerful emotions come from chaos -fear,anger,love- especially love. Love is chaos itself. Think about it! Love makes no sense. It shakes you up and spins you around. And then, eventua...”

“If for a moment you are inclined to regard these taluses as mere draggled, chaotic dumps, climb to the top of one of them, and run down without any haggling, puttering hesitation, boldly jumping fr...”

“She imagines him imagining her. This is her salvation.In spirit she walks the city, traces its labyrinths, its dingy mazes: each assignation, each rendezvous, each door and stair and bed. What he s...”

“His hand glides down my arm, folds over my hand. His fingers lace with mine, palms kissing. I can feel the fast thud of his heart through this single touch.”

“heartbeat the sound i must hearand listen”

“Ive become your heartbeat making you mine Upon every kiss of passion our souls shine”