Why did you choose to stay here?" (...) "I don't know," he said. "It's as if there's more oxygen here.

The love of those we don't love in return settles on the surface and from there quickly evaporates.

You can fall ill with just a memory.

Choices are made in brief seconds and paid for in the time that remains

With a little effort, she could get up by herself

Why did you choose to stay here?" (...) "I don't know," he said. "It's as if there's more oxygen here.

All Mattia saw was a shadow moving toward him. He instinctively closed his eyes and then felt Alice’s hot mouth on his, her tears on his cheek, or maybe they weren’t hers, and finally her hands, so light, holding his head still and catching all his thoughts and imprisoning them there, in the space that no longer existed between them.