Willem tsk-tsks. "You Americans are so violent. I'm Dutch. The worst I will do is run her over with a bicycle.

(P)eople’s good intentions can wind up putting us in boxes as confining as coffins.

Girlfriend is such a stupid word. I couldn't stand calling her that. So, we had to get married, so I could call her 'wife.

I know what I did to you was so wrong, but at the time it also felt so necessary to my survival. I don't know if those two things can both be true, but that's how it was.

It's nice, this. The canal." He looks at me. "You." "I'll bet you say that to all the canals.

You can have your wishes, your plans, but at the end of the day, it's out of your control -Mia

I want to undo this. To make it right. But I have no idea how. I don't seem to know how to open up to people without getting the door slammed in my face. So I do nothing.