I wished she'd been smart enough, or loving enough, to realize everybody has burdens that crush them, only they don't give up their children.

Every person on the face of the earth makes mistakes, Lily. Every last one. We're all so human. Your mother made a terrible mistake, but she tried to fix it.' 'Good night,' I said, and rolled onto my side. 'There is nothing perfect,' August said from the doorway. 'There is only life.

Novels attempt to render human experience; that's really all they are. They are meant to convey empathy for the character.

This is what I know about myself. She was all I wanted. And I took her away.

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.

I felt amazed at the choosing one had to do, over and over a million times daily--choosing love, then choosing it again...how loving and being in love could be so different.

I realize what a strange in-between place I am in. The Young Woman inside has turned to go, but the Old Woman has not shown up.