I had to go on without my mother, even though I was suffering terribly, grieving her.

I was trying to find a new home in the world.

Can I convince the person about whom I'm crazy to be crazy about me? The short answer is no. The long answer is no.

Let yourself be gutted. Let it open you. Start here.

The place of true healing is a fierce place. It's a giant place. it's a place of monstrous beauty and endless dark and glimmering light.

"The Dream of a Common Language" by Adrienne Rich. I carried it the entire hike. On my first night, when I felt like I was in too deep, I read the first poem out loud to myself over and over.

He hadn't loved me well in the end, but he'd loved me well when it mattered.