“What I've learned, Mia, and what my grandmother always said, is that the whole point is wishing and remembering - not if what you want happens, not if remembering hurts. Because when you wish for something, you're asking. And when you ask, you're trying. And all everyone can really do is try, right?”

“It's peculiar what you remember when you're not trying.”

“When it's all over, you're remembered for what you did, not what you said you were going to do.”

“I can be tough, i can be strong,but with you, it's not like that at all.there's a girl that gives a s---behind this wall, you just walk through itand i remember all those crazy things you saidyou left them running through my head,you're always there, you're everywhere,but right now i wish you were here,all those crazy things we did,didn't think about just went with it,you're always there, you're everywhere, but right now i wish you were heredamn damn damn what i'd do to have you here, here, herei wish you were heredamn damn damn, what i'd do to have you near, near, neari wish you were herei love the way you are,it's who I am,don't have to try hard,we always say, say it like it is,and the truth is that i really miss,”

“You're asking yourself, Can I give this child the best possible upbringing and keep her out of harm's way her whole life long? The answer is no, you can't. But nobody else can either. Not a state home, that's for sure. For heaven's sake, the best they can do is turn their heads while the kids learn to pick locks and snort hootch, and then try to keep them out of jail. Nobody can protect a child from the world. That's why it's the wrong thing to ask, if you're really trying to make a decision."So what's the right thing to ask?"Do I want to try? Do I think it would be interesting, maybe even enjoyable in the long run, to share my life with this kid and give her my best effort and maybe, when all's said and done, end up with a good friend.”

“... but if I've learned one thing, it's this: forgiveness is crucial. If you can't forgive someone you're mad at, that anger will poison you. You have to learn to let it go"... "people have reasons for doing the things that they do, especially when they care about you. You may not always understand what they are, but if you can try to understand the person then you might see that they really care, despite what happened."pg 100 Meredith to Vlad”