When most people looked at Josie Tyrell, they only saw a certain collection of bones, a selection of forms filling space. But Michael saw past the mouth and the eyes, the architecture of the body, her fleshly masquerade. Other boys were happy enough to enjoy the show, they just wanted to be entertained in the body's shadow theater. But Michael had to come backstage. He went down into the mines, into the dark, and brought up the gold, your new self, a better self. But what good was it if he was just going to leave her behind?

like a kid kicked out of class. humiliated and free.

We read so that we can be moved by a new way of looking at things.

How vast was a human being's capacity for suffering. The only thing you could do was stand in awe of it. It wasn't a question of survival at all. It was the fullness of it, how much could you hold, how much could you care.

Depression, suffering and anger are all part of being human.

I felt like an undeveloped photograph that he was printing, my image rising to the surface under his gaze.

Loneliness is the human condition. Cultivate it. The way it tunnels into you allows your soul room to grow.