“No, it wasn't an accident, I didn't say that. It was carefully planned, down to the tiniest mechanical and emotional detail. But it was a mistake.”

“It wasn't like I had a plan, but it wasn't a mistake.”

“But wasn't that always the way. It's never something huge that changes everything, but instead the tiniest of details, irrevocably tweaking the balance of the universe while you're busy focusing on the big picture.”

“That's when I finally got it. I finally understood. It wasn't the thought that counted. It was the actual execution that mattered, the showing up for somebody. The intent behind it wasn't enough. Not for me. Not anymore. It wasn't enough to know that deep down, he loved me. You had to actually say it to somebody, show them you cared. And he just didn't. Not enough.”

“One of my challenges [as a writer] is to make sure that I'm giving the reader details that the character cares about rather than details that I care about. I#d say that's key to world-building.”

“Either we live by accident and die by accident, or we live by plan and die by plan.”