“You can have your wishes, your plans, but at the end of the day, it's out of your control.”

“All I can think about is how fucked up it would be for your life to end here, now. I mean I know that your life if fucked up no matter what now, forever. And I'm not dumb enough to think that I can undo that, that anyone can. But I can't wrap my mind around the notion of you not getting old, having kids, going to Juilliard, getting to play that cello in front of a huge audience, so that they can get the chills the way I do every time I see you pick up your bow, every time I see you smile at me.”

“...the world feels so big when you're out in the wide open. It's like you don't have a place in it when you don't have a home.""Your place is right here," I whispered, laying down and hugging her close.”

“Letting go. Everyone talks about it like it's the easiest thing. Unfurl your fingers one by one until your hand is open.”

“Dear Willem:I’ve been trying to forget about you and our day in Paris for nine months now, but as you can see, it’s not going all that well. I guess more than anything, I want to know, did you just leave? If you did, it’s okay. I mean it’s not, but if I can know the truth, I can get over it. And if you didn’t leave, I don’t know what to say. Except I’m sorry that I did.I don’t know what your response will be at getting this letter, like a ghost from your past. But no matter what happened, I hope you’re okay.”

“Next time I get sick, you can tell that to me. You can be my girl in the mountains.""Okay", I say."I'll be your mountain girl and take care of you.”

“I'm the one shot, the heir and the spare, so you have to make damn sure your one investment pays off because there's no backup.”