“So was I once myself a swinger of birches.And so I dream of going back to be.”

“But once in a while . . . I don't know. I feel so close, Rose. So close to the edge. Like if I allow myself one small misstep, I'll plunge away and never come back. It's like I'll lose myself.”

“I shut my eyes tightly, willing myself to go back to sleep. I want to go back to my dream, back to Caleb. I can't fucking breathe ! I can't breathe without him. I don't want to.”

“Someone once told me that life changes, and you give up old dreams so that new ones can take their place. I held on to this dream [...] I kept it safe and close to my heart. I could never let go of it, because a part of me always knew you’d come back for it one day.”

“So you see, the real question isn't how I left this world to go to the woods.It's how I made myself come back.”

“Back when I was a competitive swimmer, I used to dream of going to the Olympics. But then I changed my mind, once I found out how expensive the tickets are.”