“The words come out of my mouth, but they dont sound like me. I dont sound like me. Probably because I know its all lies. But I can see that theyre lies that Reeve believes. He swallows them whole. ...”

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. a burn for a burn. a life for a life. that's how all this got started. and that's how it's going to end.”

“It still feels weird to spend money on Christmas trees. Back when Mom was alive, wed go out tree hunting. Thats what she called it, anyway. I think other people might use the word trespassing.”

“Ive fallen for the one person I shouldnt have. For the boy who broke Marys heart. For Rennies one true love. For Alexs best friend.It has to end here. Now.”

“Reeve shakes his head and exhales loudly. Thats not what Im saying and you know it! He looks away. Can you just . . . can you go get dressed and come with me and well talk about it later? My moms e...”

“It's crazy, how similar we are. Here's both of us, working through our stuff, trying to make something positive out of something really bad.”

“The heart was made to be broken.”

“He does something to me, that boy. Every time. Its his only detriment. He steps on my heart. He makes me cry.”

“Was it hard?" I ask.Letting go?"Not as hard as holding on to something that wasn't real.”

“here she is, all mine, trying her best to give me all she can. How could I ever hurt her? But I didnt understand then. That I could hurt somebody so badly she would never recover. That a person can...”

“Any happiness, no matter how brief, seemed better than the long, simmering torture of waking up day after day, knowing I could never have him.”

“Everyone always wants to know how you can tell when it's true love, and the answer is this: when the pain doesn't fade and the scars don't heal, and it's too damned late.”

“Pain is not the same as suffering. Left to itself, the body discharges pain spontaneously, letting go of it the moment that the underlying cause is healed. Suffering is pain that we hold on to. It ...”

“In pleasant peace and security How suddenly the soul in a man begins to die He shall look up above the stalled oxen Envying the cruel falcon, And dig under the straw for a stone To bruise himself on.”

“It is amazing, though, what pains your subconscious will undergo in achieve sustainable peace.”