“There are so many things we've been brought up to believe that it takes you an awfully long time to realize that they aren't you.”

“Why aren't the two of you together?'The directness of her question throws me. 'I don't know. Sometimes I think there are only so many opportunities... to get together with someone. And we've both screwed up so many times - that we've missed our chance.”

“When you’re growing up, it takes a long time for you to realize that there’s something different about you. On one level, you know there’s something strange, but on another, yourself is the only thing you ever knew.”

“Hating the cool kids takes an awful lot of energy, and I'd given up on it a long time ago.”

“The directness of her question throws me. "I don't know. Sometimes I think there are only so many opportunities...to get together with someone. And we've both screwed up so many times"- my voice grows quiet - "that we've missed our chance.""Anna." Mer pauses. "That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard.""But—""But what? You love him, and he loves you, and you live in the most romantic city in the world.”

“One may do many things in a long life. I also played a great deal of tennis and brought up three children. There's time for all sorts of adventures.”