“Her entire existence is trying to figure out what her life is supposed to be while her heart breaks a little bit everyday over the tragedy of being alive.”

“Getting all emotionally wrapped up in made-up people's lives gives me a chance to take a break from my own life [...].”

“Existing is not quite enough. Passionate living is the best revenge.”

“...because being a smart-ass is always preferable to being a dumb-ass.”

“It is blissfully silent as Matt flutters his hands across my stomach and up the insides of my thigs, making me shiver. He smells like Downy fabric softener and sometimes tastes like it too....He smells like clean comfort and tastes like flowers, mint and salt. His arms are hard, his hips and thighs are solod with muscle, mouth hot, tongue alive, and all I want is wanting when we are in the darnkess in the L.”

“Crying and scratching. They are both supposed to offer relief, but they don't. My muscles feel bruised and my bones hurt where they get near my skin. I am happiest when I'm typing. And then I push the typewriter off my lap and curl my body around it like a sea horse and fall asleep like Esther, konwing that when I wake up, things will be more or lest exactly the same.”

“Books and movies, they are not mere entertainment. They sustain me and help me cope with my real life.”