Alexander knew that before he had light instead of darkness, he had to deserve light instead of darkness.

Please stop looking at me, she thought, afraid of his eyes and terrified of her own heart.

Love is, to be loved,” said Alexander, “in return.

Some words were like that. Whole lives attached to them. Ghosts and lives and ecstasy and sorrow.

Tatiana, I love you. Do you hear me? I love you like I’ve never loved anyone in my whole life. Now, get up. For me, Tatia. For me, please get up and go take care of your sister. Go on. And I’ll take care of you.” His lips kissed her cheek.

When Tatiana looked up from her ice cream, she saw a soldier staring at her from across the street.

I was blinded by stupidity for a brief moment in our life, for a flicker in the eternity in which you and I live, and I stumbled.