She can feel his blood, just beneath his skin; when he breathes, the air fills with smoke. He's like a dragon, ancient and fearless.

Pride is a funny thing; it can make what is truly worthless appear to be a treasure.

Others said May was best, that sweet green time when lilacs bloomed and gardens along Main Street were filled with sugary pink peonies and Dutch tulips.

You have to choose the voice you are going to trust. You can't listen to everyone.

And then I understood that she had no idea what she'd done to my family. She thought love and hatred were equal.

Ironically, now that my children are older and gone quite a bit, I find it harder to work when they're not around. Too much free time!

People hide their truest nature. I understood that; I even applauded it. What sort of world would it be if people bled all over the sidewalks, if they wept under trees, smacked whomever they despised, kissed strangers, revealed themselves?