Journal became a sanctuary where I could pour out in honesty my pain and joy. It recorded my footsteps and helped me understand where I was standing, where I had been, and even where God pointed.

When he spoke, the roughness was gone from his voice. "I could tell you I did it. That's what you wanna hear. I could tell you she did it to herself, but both ways I'd be lying. It was you who did it, Lily. You didn't mean it, but it was you.

You can tell which girls lack mothers by the look of their hair.

You have untold strengths and resources inside. You have your glorious self.

It was the first time I'd ever said the words to another person, and the sound of them broke open my heart.

Our earlier lives aren't wrong, they are just pre-construction. Our lives are meant to unfold, to evolve, and that's good. The only wrong thing, perhaps, is permanently hesitating on the verge of courage, which would prevent this process from taking place.

She didn't even know how dangerous the truth could be, all the tiny, shattering seeds it carried.