There was no normal. There never had been. "Normal" and "natural" were the biggest lies we'd ever created.

Words are everything. Words give wings even to those who have been stamped upon, broken beyond all hope of repair.

I was born in 1991, and Harry Potter came out in 97, so, you know, I was really obsessed. I used to read them in one night.

I don't know. I just want you with me. I had never said those words aloud. Now that I could taste my freedom I wanted him to share it with me. But he couldn't change his life for me. And I couldn't sacrifice my life to be with him

There are certain things in life that you never forget. Things that dig deep, things that nest in the hadal zone.

I like to imagine there were more of us in the beginning. Not many, I suppose. But more than there are now.

My father thought I would lead a simple life; that I was bright but unambitious, complacant with whatever work life threw at me. My father, as usual, was wrong.