Embarrassment felt a lot like eating chili peppers. It burned in the back of your throat and there was nothing you could do to make it go away. You just had to take it, suffer from it, until it eased off.

When your cup is empty, you do not mourn what is gone. Because if you do, you will miss the opportunity to fill it again.

Snow flurries began to fall and they swirled around people's legs like house cats. It was magical, this snow globe world.

When you're a teenager, your friends are your life. When you grow up, friendships seem to get pushed further and further back, until it seems like a luxury, a frivolity, like a bubble bath.

No one should ever compromise the dignity of another human being.

There was a certain power beautiful mothers held over their less beautiful daughters.

She'd always known he didn't love her. But it was easier to bear when he didn't know she loved him. That way they were even. Now he knew he had all the power.