Circumstances don't always align themselves with human intention.

Then she marched to the pillows and beat them mercilessly until they lay puffed out like obedient clouds.

Are you determined to leave me in this world to live without my heart?

Ideas were growing in all directions and dimensions; they were becoming a sculpture, or a castle. And then everyone left her, to return to their own affairs; and she was alone, and empty and unbelieving again.

If I wanted to stun anyone at dinner, I'd hit them in the face.

But everyone has some kind of power to hurt people.

Katsa hugged her for a long time, and Bitterblue understood that this was always how it would be. Katsa would come and then Katsa would go. But the hug was real, and lasting, even though it would end. The coming was as real as the going, and the coming would always be a promise. It would have to be good enough.