“But if you weren’t a Keeper…if you lost someone and you thought they were gone forever, and then you learned you could get them back, you’d be there with the rest of them, clawing at the walls to get through.”

“But once you know, you can’t go back. Not really. You can carve out someone’s memories, but they won’t be who they were before. They’ll just be full of holes. Given the choice, I’d rather learn to live with what I know.”

“I feel connected to you, and I couldn't bear the thought of that being severed. Lost.”

“Let them think you a demon or a god,” she said. “Let them fear you. It does not matter.”“It matters a great deal to me,” he snapped.”

“Things only hurt more when you can see them.”

“You know,” he says, “for someone who doesn’t like touching people, you keep finding ways to put your hands on me.”

“Why did you take this job?” I ask. “It doesn’t make sense. You’re so young—” “It was an honor to be promoted,” she says, but the words have a hollow ring. I can see her drawing back into herself, into her role. “Who did you lose?” I ask. Carmen flashes a smile that is at once dazzling and sad. “I’m a Librarian, Miss Bishop. I’ve lost everyone.”