Every act of life, from the morning toothbrush to the friend at dinner, became an effort. I hated the night when I couldn't sleep and I hated the day because it went toward night.

She was beautiful - but especially she was without mercy.

She was overstrained with grief and loneliness: almost any shoulder would have done as well.

he could transform the barest incident into a thing of curve and contour.

mother says that two souls are sometimes created together and--and in love before they're born.

Then it had not been merely the stars to which he had aspired on that June night. He came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless splendour.

New friends can often have a better time together than old friends.