“Parker always felt things in his bones because, he said, it saved space”

“All along I believed that I was important to Travis; that he needed me. But in that moment, I felt like the shiny new toy Parker said I was. He wanted to prove to Parker that I was still his. His.“I’m nobody’s,” I said to the empty room.As the words sunk in, I was overwhelmed with the grief I’d felt from the night before. I belonged to no one.I’d never felt so alone in my life.”

“He stepped closer to her. "Thank you for saving me," he said softly, and wrapped the bones of his arms around her. Valkyrie smiled and hugged him back.”

“But still, here are the words Despereaux Tilling spoke to his father. He said, "I forgive you, Pa!" And he said those words because he sensed that it was the only way to save his heart, to stop it from breaking in two. Despereaux, reader, spoke those words to save himself.”

“Giving a nod to his old pal, Fate, he felt a slow smile crease his cheeks,"So," he said. "We really are alone.""Yeah," she said, then her eyes widened comically."Hey, no-stay over there. What are you doing? Personal space!”

“If I don't save her from the hands of that humbug," he said, aloud, as he went to bed, "she is lost. But I shall save her."He put out his lamp and felt a need to insult Erik in the dark. Thrice over, he shouted:"Humbug!...Humbug!...Humbug!”