“As a boy, all I ever wanted was this: alife dedicated to art; every idea, every breath an artistic gesture. And here is this girl before me,blowing on her hands to keep warm. And why am I so worried it’s not going to last?”

“Because I want to go to the dance," I said."But why can't you go as a boy? Won't it be risky going as a girl?"Of course it would be risky. But everything I'd done for the past four months had been risky.I took a deep breath before speaking. "I want to go as a girl, because I want to dance with a particular boy."Mrs. Smithers rolled her eyes at this. "There's always a boy, isn't there?”

“If I ever stood a chance of resisting her, it evaporates the instant she leans into me. So does every last ounce of finesse that I’m normally capable of. The kiss that should’ve started out slow starts out like a forest fire. The first taste of her tongue consumes me.And I’m lost.And I’m lost.My hands are in her hair and my mouth is devouring hers. I give no thought to where I am or the girlfriend whose father I work for. I can’t think past how badly I want to be inside the tight, hot body of the girl in my arms.But why? Why do I want her so bad?”

“every night I fold myself into her, every night she comes into my life and I feel her hand on my heart and she is saying, I am here ... I am here.”

“I have to go," he said at last, getting to his feet. "I shouldn't even be here, but I cannot keep my self away from you. I worry about you in every waking moment. I love you, Luce. So much it hurts.”

“You don’t need to spend every waking moment protecting me now. I’m supposed to be your partner, not your burden, and if that’s all I’m ever going to be toyou, then I don’t want to be here anymore. I want you to love me. I want to look forward to coming here every fall. I want winter to be my favorite season becauseI get to spend it with you. So tell me that’s going to happen, Henry. Tell me things are going to be better, that you’re not going to think of Persephone every timeyou touch me. Tell me that you’re going to love me as much as you love her, and that I won’t spend the rest of eternity paling in comparison to your memories ofmy sister.”