“With everything in me screaming No! yet the sum of me sighed Yes.”

“God owes me nothing, yet has given me everything.”

“Dad," said Will, his voice very faint. "Are you a good person?""To you and your mother, yes, I try. But no man's a hero to himself. I've lived with me a lifetime, Will. I know everything worth knowing about myself-""And, adding it all up...?""The sum? As they come and go, and I mostly sit very still and tight, yes, I'm all right.”

“Yes, there is some one I love, though he has not told me yet that he even loves me.”

“Answer this question very carefully, kid. Are you a virgin?"The silence was so long I thought I was going to have to ask him again."What the hell?" He sounded honestly perplexed."Yes or no? Are you a virgin?" I lost control halfway through. My voice spiraled up into a scream... "Sonofabitch answer me!""Yes!" he screamed back. "Yes, I'm a fucking virgin, don't shoot me goddammit fucking please!”

“Everything around me affirmed there was nothing else I could do – yet everything inside me cried that I was not doing enough.”