"In a world beyond this one, that river goes on singing sweetly, enchanting us with what we want to hear, shaping what we need to see in order to keep going. In its waters, all disappointments are forgotten. Our mistakes forgiven. Gazing into them, we see a strong father. A loving mother. Warm rooms where we are sheltered. Adored. Wanted. And the uncertainty of our futures is nothing more than the fog of breath on a windowpane."

"People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone."

"I also think you’re a little hard to swallow. With your tacky romantic drama and your defender-of-the-helpless act. Only it isn’t an act, which makes you more unbearable. Please feel free to take this personally."

"This was what I liked most about my friends: just sitting around and telling stories. Window stories and mirror stories. I only listened- the stories on my mind weren’t that funny.
I couldn’t help but think about school and everything else ending. I liked standing just outside the couches and watching them- it was a kind of sad I didn’t mind, and so I just listened, letting all the happiness and the sadness of this ending swirl around in me, each sharpening the other. For the longest time, it felt kind of like my chest was cracking open, but not precisely in an unpleasant way."