“Music was alchemy.Music was sex.When it was right, when everything fit together just perfectly, it was better than any feeling he’d ever experienced.”

“Their fingers seemed to fit together in just the right way- effortlessly clasped,like perfect complements.”

“But because they didn't see each other very often, their relationship had more ups and downs than either of them had experienced before. Since everything felt right when they were together, everything felt wrong when they weren't. ”

“Nothing ever fits the palm so perfectly, or feels so right, or inspires so much protective instinct as the hand of a child”

“Regret is a terrible thing, all-encompassing thing. It fucks with you constantly, makes you feel like if you'd only done that one thing differently, everything just might be perfect right now. Even when your shit is going good, it keeps it from ever being great because you wonder if it could have been better if only....”

“Last night, instead of sleeping,he just lay behind her, listening to her breathe and thinking that sound was sweeter than any song he’d ever heard her sing. And his Stella had a beautiful voice, never heard better.”