I figured something out," he said aloud. "The future is unpredictable." Hassan said, "Sometimes the kafir likes to say massively obvious things in a really profound voice.

If he is anything other than a total gentleman, I’m going to gouge his eyes out.” “So you’re into it.” “Withholding judgment! When can I see you?” “Certainly not until you finish An Imperial Affliction.” I enjoyed being coy. “Then I’d better hang up and start reading.” “You’d better,” I said, and the line clicked dead without another word. Flirting was new to me, but I liked it.

How do you just stop being terrified of getting left behind and ending up by yourself forever and not meaning anything to the world?

'Do you know,' he asked in a delicious accent, 'what Dom Pérignon said after inventing champagne?' 'No?' I said. 'He called out to his fellow monks, 'Come quickly: I am tasting the stars!'

Right. I'd forgotten about her.' He shook his head. 'That keeps happening.

It is very sad to me that some people are so intent on leaving their mark on the world that they don’t care if that mark is a scar.

Breaking up isn't something that gets done to you; its something that happens with you.