Neither of us seemed able to be close to anyone. Not even each other. Closeness meant the one you loved the most would cause you the most damage. How did you unlearn that? It was woven deep between every fiber and vessel. You couldn't cut it out.

I thought I would spend the rest of my life searching for little reminders of you.

I’ve won his heart, but it’s like owning a house in which most of the doors are permanently locked. He wants to shield me from all unpleasantness. And it’s not really marriage—not like the marriage you have with Cam—until he’s willing to share the worst of himself as well as the best of himself.

The problem with chasing after happiness was that it wasn't a destination you could reach. It was something that happened along the way.

He was unbelievably hard. Everywhere. He was in control, infinitely stronger, and he wanted me to know it. -Ella

Where's your instruction manual?" I asked him. "What's the baby customer-service number?

If you have to tell someone they call the shots, they're not really calling the shots.