I learned that the world didn't see the inside of you, that it didn't care a whit about the hopes and dreams, and sorrows, that lay masked by skin and bone. It was as simple, as absurd, and as cruel as that.

I suspect the truth is that we are waiting, all of us, against insurmountable odds, for something extraordinary to happen to us.

[Flying kite with my friends] is one of the seminal memories of growing up for me.

Mostly, though, I dream of good things...I dream that flowers will bloom in the streets..again and music will play in the...houses and kites will fly in the skies.

Quiet is turning down the volume knob on life.

But the game involves only male names. Because, if it's a girl, Laila has already named her

All my life, she gave to me a shovel and said, Fill these holes inside of me, Pari.