She couldn’t hide from everyone for the rest of her life… Well she could. That was the direction things were going. But she knew from long-ago experience that when you were uncertain and if you were courageous enough to let her in a real friend could do a world of good.

They needed to grieve alone was what Tibby's dad said. Lena wondered if really there was any choice in that. Everyone grieved alone.

Forget Jack, I'm in love with the cold, dirt floor.

Wish for what you want, work for what you need. -Carmen's grandmother

I look back on my 20s. It's supposed to be the prime of your life, the most vital, the most beautiful. But you're making your critical decisions and sometimes your most critical mistakes.

She remembered me.' This was his worst weakness, his most toxic drug.

I love the idea of fictional worlds kind of all cohering in some way.