“They looked like two children," she told me. And that thought frightened her, because she'd always felt that only children are capable of everything.”

“Only children believe they're capable of everything.”

“She regretted the explanation immediately, but that was because she always regretted everything. And then, after the regret had flared and burned out, she didn't care. He should know, she thought. She wanted him to know. She felt something for somebody, and she'd told him.”

“Out loud I said I had two children. Silently I said three. I always felt like apologizing to her for that.”

“Looking at the children, she knew that any hope for a new life would have to grow within her. She glanced at Nate, wondering if he felt as she did, that children were the only consolation in this world, the only recompense for so much suffering.”

“She had just started living like a grown-up and she'd never felt more vulnerable, frightened or confused in her life.”