The look in Marlee's eyes was triumphant, and the smile hiding behind her cup of tea said, 'Gotcha'!

It hurt me to be away from him. Some days I went crazy wondering what he was doing. And when I couldn't handle it, I practiced music. I really had Aspen to thank for me being the musician that I was. He drove me to distraction. And that was bad.

He stood and went to read my pin as I approached. “America, is it?” he said, a smile playing on his lips. “Yes, it is. And I know I’ve heard your name before, but could you remind me?

I'd spare your tears for the rest of your life if I could.

You don't do that. You don't just leave your family. Sticking together... it's the only way to survive.

You are not the world, but you are everything that makes the world good.

Castes never meant that much to me.