The fact was I loved my wife to a degree that I found impossible to express, and so rarely did.

As the possibility of a relationship had faded, Emma had endeavored to harden herself to Dexter's indifference and these days a remark like this caused no more pain than, say, a tennis ball thrown sharply at the back of her head.

I'm not the consolation prize, Dex. I'm not something you resort to. I happen to think I'm worth more than that.

As new dawns go, this one is depressingly like the old dawn.

I am not up to this. I am not capable. I thought I would be, but I'm not. Some part of me is missing, and I cannot do this.

I suppose the important thing is to make some sort of difference.

I'm just not prepared to be treated like this anymore.' 'Treated like what?' She sighed, and it was a moment before she spoke. 'Like you always want to be somewhere else, with someone else.