“Brick walls towered over her. Decrepit staircases crowded about her. Nothing had changed. The line there, the lessons there, the rape there. Shouldn't the place be crimson with blood and black with shame?”

“The shame of her youth screamed at her from every brick, but Jesus silenced it. She had dreaded this moment for weeks, but God was so powerful. In the very place of her worst sin and deepest pain his peace billowed through her soul.”

“She raised her head and saw a squadron of fighter planes. She stretched her hand high as if she could grab hold and climb away from what she had done, from who she was.”

“Long ago she'd clamped an iron shell around her heart and nothing and no one could pry it lose, but deep inside the tender flesh still beat.”

“Ruth wiped her eyes. Successful at a price? Forgiven but damaged? She wished so much more for her baby sister.”

“Sonetimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself.”

“They had lied, those who had extolled the virtues of love—its pleasures, its sublimity—those who had told her that it was beautiful and worthwhile.There was nothing beautiful about it.It was awful.”