A first kiss is the demarcation line: the same information that a moment ago felt private, all of a suddens seems unfair to withhold. And with that exchange came more.

What kind of heart does one have to have in order to be able to get rid of these, without regret, as if they were empty beer cans?

It's not easy to give up something you've had all your life.

Why is it you can never hope to describe the emotion Africa creates? You are lifted. Out of whatever pit, unbound from whatever tie, released from whatever fear. You are lifted and you see it all from above.

I had fallen out of my secure world, precipitated beyond the territories I had only begun to control so skillfully. What a foolish step to take. What an insane move to make.

Jealousy is a disease, it's like a poison.

We knew nothing of loss. Nobody has taught us about pain. Until that moment, death had just amounted to a scary sound.