Everyone wanted answers I wasn't ready to give.

When the darkness gets easier, you know you're sinking deeper, becoming dead yourself.

There were tiny stars behind my eyelids, a whole galaxy of tiny, spinning stars.

Then your fingers moved down to my chin. You pushed it up with your thumb to look at me, almost like you were studying me in the artificial lights above my head. And, I mean, you really looked at me … with eyes like two stars. [...] And I had wings fluttering away inside me all right. Big fat moth wings. You trapped me easily, drew me toward you like I was already in the net.

I want you to see that the person I glimpsed running beside the camel, running to save my life, is the person you can choose to be.

I was surprised at her gentleness, her willingness to give in.

The sun was bobbing on the horizon, just peeking over. Its light shimmered on the sand behind you, making your body look like it was glowing … like it had a kind of aura.