Character is the plot in many ways

You eventually erase her contact info from your phone but not the pictures you took of her in bed while she was naked and asleep, never those.

If you want to make a human being into a monster, deny them, at the cultural level any reflection of themselves

The truth is there ain’t no relationship in the world that doesn’t hit turbulence.

You know how it is when you get back with somebody you’ve loved. It felt better than it ever was, better than it ever could be again

When I was thinking about these women characters, no matter how bad a person I am - a bad writer, my limitations, my sexism, you know - the thought was, it would be useful as a writer to try to create a template for all the male writers, especially Dominican male writers, especially males of color, of how a writer can use seeing to create more nuanced representations of women.

We're on speaking terms today. I say, Maybe we should hang out with the boys, and you shake your head. I want to spend time with you, you say. If we're still good, next week maybe. That's the most we can hope for. Nothing thrown, nothing said that we might remember for years. You watch me while you put a brush through your hair. Each strand that breaks is as long as my arm. You don't want to let go, but don't want to be hurt, either. It's not a great place to be but what can I tell you?