When people have supernatural beliefs I think they should be respected but there is no reason why they need to impose them on others.

Who you get, and how it works out - there's so much luck involved, as well as the million branching consequences of your conscious choice of a mate, that no one and no amount of talking can untangle it if it turns out unhappily.

Briony began to understand the chasm that lay between an idea and its execution.

It was common enough, to see so much death and want a child. Common, therefore human, and he wanted it all the more. When the wounded were screaming, you dreamed of sharing a little house somewhere, of an ordinary life, a family line, connection.

When its gone, you'll know what a gift love was. you'll suffer like this. So go back and fight to keep it.

She loved him, though not at this particular moment.

Oblivion seemed the only reasonable option.