...I want those perfect eyes and lips, and for everyone to look at me and gasp. And for everyone who sees me to think Who's that? and want to get to know me, and listen to what I say." "I'd rather have something to say.

But you weren't born expecting that kind of beauty in everyone, all the time. You just got programmed into thinking anything else is ugly.

Everyone in the world was programmed by the place they were born, hemmed in by their beliefs, but you had to at least try to grow your own brain.

When she awoke, the world was on fire.

Turns out if you never lie, there's always someone mad at you.

And it was pretty clear that no prince was showing up, or at least that he was really late.

Sometimes it felt like her life was a series of falls from ever-greater heights.