“You've never been in love," she said. "You don't understand.""If being in love means giving up your freedom, not to mention your opportunities," Caitlin said, "Then I haven't missed anything.”

“I love you, Michael Wagner.” “Forever?” he asked. “Forever,” I said.”

“Caitlyn isn't someone to get over. She's someone to come to terms with, the way you have to come to terms with your parents, your siblings. You can't deny they ever happened. You can't deny you ever loved them, love them still, even if loving them causes you pain.”

“I made promises to you that I'm not sure I can keep. None of it has anything to do with you. It's just that I don't know what to do now. You must be thinking what a rotten person I am. Well, believe me, I'm thinking the same thing. I don't know how this happened or why. Maybe I can get over it. Do you think you can wait—because I don't want you to stop loving me. I keep remembering us and how it was. I don't want to hurt you … not ever …”

“The best books come from someplace deep inside.... Become emotionally involved. If you don't care about your characters, your readers won't either.”

“you can't deny they ever happened. You can't deny you ever loved them, love them still, even if loving them causes you pain”

“Like my mother said, you can't go back to holding hands”