“His strength kept me moving forward, and it was also tearing me apart.”

“I had to sever my emotional cord to escape the anger and shame that silently slithered through my head, disconnecting myself from the stares and whispers that followed me down the hall.”

“Not being liked was so much worse than being invisible.”

“He was a breath of fresh air after the heart wrenching storm that had engulfed me.”

“It was more important for me to try, than to not have the chance at all.”

“You focus on a single star, I explained, as I searched for my spot. Then you spin around, staring at that one star, until you cant stand anymore. I started spinning to demonstrate. Then you lie dow...”

“In my rush, I hadnt tied my shoelaces. Noah was now tying them for me. He looked up at me through his dark fringe of lashes and smiled. The expression on his face melted me completely. I knew I had...”

“What you are is a fucking tragedy, Simon Snow. You literally couldn't be a bigger mess."He tries to kiss me, but I pull back- "And you like that?""I love it." He says"Why?""Because we match.”

“Im not a warrior or a goddess, I said at last.Adrian leaned closer. As far as Im concerned, youre both.”

“At this moment, you are seamlessly flowing with the cosmos. There is no difference between your breathing and the breathing of the rain forest, between your bloodstream and the worlds rivers, betwe...”

“Oh no. Don't smile. You'll kill me. I stop breathing when you smile.”

“I breathe in the soft, saturated exhalations of cedar trees and salmonberry bushes, fireweed and wood fern, marsh hawks and meadow voles, marten and harbor seal and blacktail deer. I breathe in the...”