“Depression gets you nowhere but tangled in an overgrown garden that can choke the life out of you.”

“Can’t... can’t just go away. Can’t just... You can’t get on that train and charge out of my life. It’s not fair. I can’t work, dammit! I... I made a bad trade. I made a bad trade. How dare you? How dare you walk into my flat and... and then just... just walk out again? How can you even—”

“When you get to that point where you notice a person’s faults, you’ve got to decide if you can live with them or can’t live without them.”

“Turns out that sometimes, faith and a sense of humor really can be all you need.”

“I know. But maybe that’s what growing up gets you. You get better. You stop waiting for the bad stuff to happen and maybe enjoy the good, you know?”

“What’s your name?” I ask again. “Chris,” he says. “Chris Young.” I exhale dramatically, blowing my bangs out of my eyes. “I can take you,” I reply. “But if you try anything, I’ll shoot you right between the eyes. Seriously.” He almost smiles. “Yes, ma’am.”

“hope could betray you—but if you had no hope, life could actuallysurprise you in the best of ways.”