Anna Downes > Quotes

“She was exactly where she needed to be. She'd made a good choice - a great choice and she would own it just as she would own every other choice she made from now on.”
― Anna Downes, The Safe Place

“After All, The universe worked in strange and mysterious ways.”
― Anna Downes, The Safe Place

“Emily: “I know I can do what I want. It’s just … I wish my parents could be just a little bit proud of me.”

Nina sighed. “Well, that would be nice, but you know what I’ve learned? If you wait around for other people to approve your decisions, you’ll be waiting a long time. Approve them yourself. Be proud of yourself.”
― Anna Downes, The Safe Place

“Everyone was carrying something, she was beginning to realize. The world was a much darker and more complicated place than she’d every thought.”
― Anna Downes, The Safe Place

“Okay, here’s what I think,” Nina said at last … “You, Emily Proudman, are a beautiful, wonderful, creative, curious human. You’re warm and generous and a joy to be around. You’re also very intelligent. But you see yourself as a victim.” …

“You’re looking for someone to blame for your unhappiness — your parents, all those casting directors, anyone. But here’s the thing: at this point in your life, everything you surround yourself with is there because you chose it to be.” …

“You were raised in a privileged country,” Nina continued … “You’re educated, and you’ve been given economic opportunity. You have the power and the freedom to choose how you live and, more importantly, how you feel about how you live. You’re not a victim. You’re in control. You just don’t know it yet.”
― Anna Downes, The Safe Place

“We’ve been broken for such a long time. We don’t belong to each other anymore.”
― Anna Downes, The Shadow House

“Isn’t it funny how two people can be raised in exactly the same way but turn out so different? Violet is a beast, but Amy is so shy, so sensitive. It’s all I can do to get her to say hello to anyone.”
― Anna Downes, The Shadow House

“The screen stuff is killing me. I didn't grown up with technology, I don't know it like he does. It's like he's this alien, speaking a language that I don't, growing up in a completely different universe and yet I'm supposed to guide him through it.”
― Anna Downes, The Shadow House

“Scott left an impression so strong it packed an almost physical punch, while Nina moved so lightly over the sand she didn't even seem to leave footprints.”
― Anna Downes, The Safe Place

“I didn’t think of myself as courageous. How was it brave to have watched my father belittle and control my mother for years, and then fail to recognize the very same pattern unfolding in my own life? No, if I’d had courage, I would’ve left much sooner. If I’d been brave, I would never have moved in with him in the first place, would never have forced my son to do the same. I’d never have given up my job, my friends—and I wouldn’t have stayed silent after the first night Stuart put his hand around my throat and held me against the wall.”
― Anna Downes, The Shadow House

“The shade of red changes as the wine matures, turning more orange or brown”
― Anna Downes, The Safe Place

“but alone with her, he was different. Tender and thoughtful. He used to make her feel special. Now, he just made her feel queasy.”
― Anna Downes, The Shadow House

“Youre looking for someone to blame for ur unhappiness ur parents, all those casting directors anyone. But heres the thing _ at this point in your life, everything u surround ur w/ is there cause u chose it to be.”
― Anna Downes, The Safe Place

“Nina - You, Emily Proudman, Are a Beautiful Wonderful, Creative, curious human. Youre warm & generous & Joy to be around Youre also very intelligent. But you see ur self as victims”
― Anna Downes, The Safe Place

“My gut reaction was to make my capability clear. I don’t need anyone, thanks, I’m doing just fine. But my need to prove I could do everything myself had got me into trouble before. Well-meaning colleagues, thoughtful friends; I’d pushed them away because sometimes the sting of vulnerability hurt more than the struggle itself.”
― Anna Downes, The Shadow House

“Closing my eyes, I tried to calm my thoughts but heard Stuart’s voice instead. Go on, run. Go ahead and try. I’ll find you.”
― Anna Downes, The Shadow House

“Ah, that’s a tale for another time.” I dug my paddle into the water and sped up. “So, what about you?” Kit cleared his throat. “Me?” “Yeah, you. I’ve showed you mine, now you show me yours.” “Ohhh.” Kit raised his eyebrows and gave me a dazzling smile. “Well, if that’s the game we’re playing…” But he didn’t say anything else, and I felt a prickle of irritation. Great listener, but terrible sharer, I thought. Red flag.”
― Anna Downes, The Shadow House

“There was nothing better than a fresh start.”
― Anna Downes, The Shadow House

“But things had changed shortly after he turned eleven. He clammed up, got angry, became shifty and secretive. And then suddenly it was like we were speaking entirely different languages. I'd say something and he'd look baffled. Then he'd reply, and it would be my turn to be confused. Being around him became like hosting a foreign exchange student, but without the pleasantries. Or an end date.”
― Anna Downes, The Shadow House

“If u wait around for other people to approve your decisions., you'll be waiting a long time. Approve them urself. Be proud of yourself”
― Anna Downes, The Safe Place

“Everything’s going to be alright,” Nina said, her arm around Emily’s shoulders. “So what if your dream didn’t quite work out as planned? Just go get a new one.”

Emily sniffed. “A new dream?”

“Sure.”

“But what if it sucks just as much as the last one did?”

Nina shrugged. “Look around you.” … “Do you think it sucks?”

Grinning, Emily shook her head. “No.”

“Me neither.”
― Anna Downes, The Safe Place

“Shit. I was doing it again: projecting my neediness onto the first person who made me feel special. But I wasn’t special at all; this was just the way Kit treated everyone.”
― Anna Downes, The Shadow House

“I didn’t think of myself as courageous. How was it brave to have watched my father belittle and control my mother for years, and then fail to recognize the very same pattern unfolding in my own life? No, if I’d had courage, I would’ve left much sooner. If I’d been brave, I would never have moved in with him in the first place, would never have forced my son to do the same. I’d never have given up my job, my friends—and I wouldn’t have stayed silent after the first night Stuart put his hand around my throat and held me against the wall. But I did all of those things because, somehow, they made sense. They felt more normal, more reasonable than any of the alternatives. Right up until they didn’t.”
― Anna Downes, The Shadow House

“You have the power and the freedom to choose How u live and more importantly, how u feel about how u live. Ur not a victim. Youre in control. You just dont know it yet.”
― Anna Downes, The Safe Place