“As I walked, I began to hear the sound of running water. It's impossible to hear that sound and not go searching for the source.”

“It was the oldest sound there was. Souls flying away.”

“I missed Rosaleen's snoring the way you'd miss the sound of the ocean waves after you've gotten used to sleeping with them. I didn't realize how it had comforted me. Quiteness has a strange, spongy hum that can nearly break your eardrums.”

“I know you've run away - everybody gets the urge to do that some time - but sooner or later you'll want to go home.”

“When he spoke, the roughness was gone from his voice. "I could tell you I did it. That's what you wanna hear. I could tell you she did it to herself, but both ways I'd be lying. It was you who did it, Lily. You didn't mean it, but it was you.”

“Rebirth is almost impossible without the darkness.....I tell myself I am experiencing the death of myself as mother, the death of myself as a younger woman -- precious old lives going by the wayside. Of course, I should let myself grieve. To deny the grief is to squander a transforming and radiant possibility.”

“It was the first time I'd ever said the words to another person, and the sound of them broke open my heart.”