“This time, there are no tears. This time, there is only emptiness and I feel it set in the straight line of my mouth. I am not strong enough for this. I want an earthquake, a hurricane, anything - even a devil, the one with the cloven hoof - Mrs. Leed's unfortunate 13th child - to rush out and stomp on me, break me into little pieces and hurl me to the stars, let me go back with those people I love. Please.”

“Will you ever let me go, Estin?” she asked eventually.Estin snorted and closed the book.“I let you go a little every time you mention his name. I let you go every time you left because of him. Even now, you won’t be near me because of him. I have let you go as much as I am able while I draw breath. I will never push you...but if you want me to leave you completely alone, please send me away. If I’m with you…I am who I am, Feanne.”

“A laugh jumps out of my mouth, surprising me. I can’t even remember the last time I laughed and it puts me on edge. I suddenly want to do the same thing to her. Let her see how it feels to teeter on that cliff.”

“So If you're feelin' lonely.. don't You're the only one I'd ever want I only wanna make it good So if I love ya a little more than I should Please forgive me I know not what I do Please forgive me I can't stop lovin' you Don't deny me This pain I'm going through Please forgive me If I need ya like I do Please believe me Every word I say is true Please forgive me I can't stop loving you Still feels like our best times are together Feels like the first touch”

“Stop rushing me. I want to take my time falling in love with you.”

“Time has stopped; time is racing. Lochie's lips are rough yet smooth, hard yet gentle. His fingers are strong: I feel them in my hair and on my neck and down my arms and against my back. And I never want him to let me go.”