“I think people understand things different when they get older. It’s not a question of getting soft, or seeing things in the gray areas instead of black and white. I really believe I’m just understanding things different. Better.”

“But the thing is that I’m in love with Rafael’s story. I think I understand when Adam says that all our stories are different but in some ways our stories are all the same. I never really got that. But when I start to read Rafael’s journal, it’s as if I can see myself. It’s better than a mirror.”

“The older I get, the more I believe in what I can't explain or understand, even more than the things that are explainable and understandable.”

“Come on Nina, you can’t avoid doing things just because you’re afraid you will get hurt.”“I’ll fall. I always fall and I don’t do it gracefully. I land hard and I usually break something. I’m a walking disaster just waiting to happen. Don’t you understand?”“I understand Nina, but this time it’s different.”“Why? How could this time possibly be any different than the others?”“It’s different, because this time I’m here to catch you.”

“...Do you see things in black and white, or are there shades of gray for you?""I hope there's gray...Black and white make things easier, but only if you don't want to think.”

“I’ve learned to get really good at this—say one thing when I’m thinking about something else, act like I’m listening when I’m not, pretend to be calm and happy when really I’m freaking out. It’s one of the skillsyou perfect as you get older. You have to learn that people are always listening.”