“Death has been here and where death has been no light shall ever be .”

“We eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner to the soundtrack of our own impending death.”

“Imagine 4 years.Four years, two suicides, one death, one rape, two pregnancies (one abortion), three overdoses, countless drunken antics, pantsings, spilled food, theft, fights, broken limbs, turf wars–every day, a turf war–six months until graduation and no one gets a medal when they get out. But everything you do here counts. High school.”

“I've been variations of hurt my whole life.”

“Eddie, It's like you died that night," he whispers.So that's it. I died.I've been dead.I blink back the tears and pick at the mattress, but I don't say anything. I don't know what I could say to him. I don't know how to convince him I'm still here when I'm not sure of it myself anymore.”

“The people feel and look the same, like they've settled here even though they know there's something more-something better-just beyond where they are.Small-town life.”

“This is not a test. Listen closely. This is not a test."But I think she's wrong. I think this is a test.It has to be.”