Do you think I don't want him to be gone more than you do? I do. Because I need to know that I can still breathe properly when he's not around. If something happens to him, I have to know that I won't fall apart.

According to Dickens, the first rule of human nature is self-preservation and when I forgive him for writing a character as pathetic as Oliver Twist, I'll thank him for the advice.

Causing a riot is what I do best.

Imagine who she would be if we unleashed her onto the world. I think she would rip the breath from all of us.

I wasn't there that day to get on the three forty-seven to Yass", he says. "I was there to throw myself in front of it.

You blame me for this, don't you?" he says. "I don't need to. You're doing a better job.

God knows what possessed me, but having that science book in my hand propelled me to immediate action. So I hit her with it.