“Shards flew everywhere, slicing her hands, her forearm, and cascading to the floor like snow glistening on a winter morning.”

“As the sky faded to night, her anger dissipatedbut not in a healing way, just dulled, like forged iron sizzling in a cold pail of water.”

“Harsh, bitter laughs exploded from her like shrapnel, and she didnt care who was cut in the process.”

“Aggression like this demanded slinging the first punch in a bar brawl, firing rounds at a range, or setting a car on fire.”

“She glanced outside at the sky, filled with clouds and smog. All the pollution, all that helleven the stars didnt stand a chance.”

“As shed walked along this street, a million stars stretched across an indigo canvas, holding all the freedom shed yearned for every night.”

“Time to make herself scarce because, hell, she didn’t want to pass that thunderhead on her way out.”

“I hug him tightly. I cant imagine my life without you, Christian. I love you so much it frightens me. Me, too, he breathes. My life would be empty without you. I love you so much.”

“Among my stillness was a pounding heart.”

“I take my hand back, like a leaf letting go. It hurts too much to hang on. So why does it hurt so much to let go?”

“Remember when Japan was cool? We used to run around with 'Mr. Roboto' on our Walkmans, 'The Karate Kid' in our Betamaxes and wore T-shirts embossed with the characters for 'storm sewer' and 'dishwa...”

“I've always been a reserved cat. When I play sports, there's people used to get mad at me because I didn't hang out and things like that. I've never been that kind of person. Nothing has changed in...”

“You have to find what makes you stable in the storm. Then, no matter what's happening round you, no matter what the hype or the publicity, you can still manage to make leaps in your work as an artist.”