“I sometimes feel that I'd like to talk about it. Then I find it's better if I don't.”

“It's about that applause I want to speak to you. I want you to remember that when you've done a little dance or a song or sketch, the applause which you get is not only because you yourself have done your best, but because each of those men is seeing in you someone he loves at home, and because of you is able to forget for a little while the unhappiness of not being in his home, and in some cases the great tragedy of not knowing what has happened to the children in his family.”

“It might have all the same; you never can tell what's magic.”

“During the last six months the little girl Harriet, without her noticing it, had disappeared and a new Harriet had taken her place. A Harriet who looked much the same outside, but was more of a person inside.”

“Though I have to admit, I had a good laugh when I realized you thought I was a bloodsucker." He smiles."Oh, well excuse me. I mean since there are immortals running around, I figure we may as well bring on the faeries, wizards, werewolves, and—" I shake my head. "I mean jeez, you talk about all this like it's normal!”

“And how long did you have to starve in a cave to come to that conclusion?" I ask, sorry about the way my voice sounded much snottier than intended. It's not his fault I find myself here. Still, when Paloma said I'd have to change my diet in order to purify myself, I didn't realize that meant fasting in a dark, abandoned cave until I pass out.”

“Sometimes--sometimes it just hits me, you know? And, it's not getting any easier." I choke, my eyes flooding all over again."I'm not sure that it will. I think you just get used to the feeling, the hollowness, the loss, and somehow learn to live around it”