“Let me believe in this, all of this, and you believe it too. (Ky Markham)”

“You don’t usually get to choose the measure of suffering or the degree of joy you have. (Ky Markham)”

“Good-byes are like this. You can’t always mark them well at the moment of separation—no matter how deep they cut. (Ky Markham)”

“Ky gives me three gifts for my birthday. A poem, a kiss and the hopeless, beautiful belief that things might work. When I open my eyes... I say, "I didn't give you anything for your birthday, i don't even know when it is." And he says, "Don't worry about that" and I say, "What can I do?" and he answers, "Let me believe in this, all of this, and you believe it too."And I do.”

“Cassia.I know which life is my real one now, no matter what happens. It’s the one with you. For some reason, knowing that even one person knows my story makes things different. Maybe it’s like the poem says. Maybe this is my way of not going gentle.I love you. (Ky Markham)”

“If I’m talking to patients who can’t answer, why not talk to the port, too? (Xander Markham)”

“Ky's story, bit by bit, is turning to ash and nothing. Except. He remembers it, and now I do, too.”