Eric called Al's suicide brave, and he was wrong. My mother's death was brave. I remember how calm she was, how determined. It isn't just brave that she died for me; it is brave that she did it without announcing it, without hesitation, and without appearing to consider another option.

Sometimes it isn't fighting that's brave, its facing the death you know is coming.

I settle into their pace. The uniform pounding of feet in my ears and the homogeneity of the people around me makes me believe that I could choose this. I could be subsumed into Abnegation’s hive mind, projecting always outward.

I glance at Tris. She grins at me, then leans in to whisper something to Christina. "Are you here to help or what, Stiff?" I say.

To find that place between what I want and what I think is wise.

My father says that those who want power and get it live in terror of losing it. That's why we have to give power to those who do not want it.

She taught me all about real sacrifice. That it should be done from love, not misplace disgust for another person's genetics.