I could not but wonder at the queen's unprecedented civility, until I realized with a flush of shame that it was my own improved behavior that motivated hers. So it is that we in life determine our own treatment.

I’d promised myself that I’d really work on talking more, talking about uncomfortable things, because I could see from Brian how well things could work out if you did.

And if I didn’t, I’d spend the rest of my life wondering who I could have turned into if only I’d had the guts to try.

How could I pretend to be someone else when I was already failing at being the person I already was?

She says you're not truly human until you've had your heart broken and you've broken someone's heart.

It was like he was in a contest to see who could do the least work, only he was the only contestant.

Everyone's scared. So scared they can't sleep sometimes. Or eat. Or keep their weight on." "Then why bother playing?" I asked. It was a whisper, this question. "Because. You love the game. You love the people you play with. You love winning, maybe. You love that one moment when you get it right . . . I dunno. Why do you play?" "Because," I whispered, "it's who I am." Sounds like a good reason to me.