Raquel Riley > Quotes

“I may not love myself completely, but I love the things you love about me.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“Yes, surrender. You better get used to surrendering because every time life gets hard, you’re going to have to surrender again and again. Every time you have a nightmare, or a flashback, every time you feel like running away, you’ll have to surrender again.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“Finally, honesty from him, and now I’m choking up. When Nash lets me in, he lets me all the way in. He’s so fucking brave, even if he’s afraid, even if he can’t see it. I can see it.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“What was it about him I found so amusing? Something about his good boy demeanor made me want to mess him up in the most wicked way.”
― Raquel Riley, Rum and Rendezvous

“You are my magic man. You cast a love spell over me. My heart belongs to you forever.”
― Raquel Riley

“There’s a small corner of my dark heart that now belongs to Nashville Sommers, and I don’t ever want it back.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“I should say something about boundaries, make it clear that I’m only here for his peace of mind, remind him that I’m only his sponsor and that we won’t be crossing any lines beyond that, but when Nash cuddles into my side, winding his arm around my chest, I don’t say a word. And when he breathes a deep sigh of relief, like it’s his first easy breath in God knows how long, I keep silent. Just for tonight, I’ll be his pillow, his lump buddy—I’ll be whatever he needs.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“A lump covered in a white sheet. My best friend. Blindly, I reached out for him, slipping beneath the sheet to find his cold, damp, stiff hand. “We’re going home, G.” Tears streamed from my useless eyes. My throat closed with dust and emotions I couldn’t swallow. “We’re going home, just like I promised.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“You’re not the only man who’s gone to war and come back broken. There’s a whole goddamn club of us and you can join anytime you fucking like. Membership is free.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“You said we’re friends, and I want to be, I do, but we’re on unequal footing, and the difference between us is too large. I’m a fucking mess and you can see every single one of my flaws. You don’t want to be my friend. You just want to save me.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“The darkness almost took my life, and at that point, I was ready to give it up gladly for a moment of peace.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“I will slay each and every one of your dragons, Nashville Aiden Sommers.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“God, grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“Holding onto a grudge is like swallowing poison and hoping the other person dies.”
― Raquel Riley, Coming In Hot

“Support group. Welcome to the Bitches with Stitches.” Jesus Christ, I walked right into this like a rat chasing a chunk of cheese. “Support groups aren’t my thing.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“It means, you are your own worst enemy. Nobody can hate you more than you hate yourself. The drugs just make you forget that for a little while.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Sometimes, all you need is a little bit of crazy to feel right again.”
― Raquel Riley, Rum and Rendezvous

“Don’t look too closely. It’s dark inside there.” “Nah, you just need someone to shine a bright light so you can find your way through the darkness within.” “I thought you were my light,” he sobs brokenly, drowning my heart in his tears. “I am your light. It’s still inside you. I’ll hold that fucking flashlight for you every single day and night for the rest of your life. But you can’t see the light if you don’t open your eyes, Nash. You’ve got to open your eyes and trust that the light will be there.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“I don’t ever want Nash to feel like a hostage again, not for one more minute of his life.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“Everything about Nash brings out the worst of my caretaking tendencies and my savior complex. I’ve talked many patients through their flashbacks, but I’ve never hugged any of them, never felt that stirring in my gut that I felt today when his eyes dropped to my lips. I’ve never breathed in someone’s scent and wanted more. Nashville Sommers is dangerous for me.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“Thank fuck he’s still alive. I can’t imagine a world where he doesn’t exist. Without him, maybe I wouldn’t exist either.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“What were you singing?” My voice is barely a whisper, and he answers in the same tone. “The sun will come out tomorrow.” “Nash.” My voice breaks, and he knows I’m falling apart because his pain has sliced through my heart. He can hear it breaking for him.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“Thank you for your service. There are no five words I hate more.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“I will chase all of the ghosts from the dark corners of your nightmares, until the sun is shining down on you, warm and bright, and safe. I will be your light in the darkness, your hand to hold when you get lost and can’t find your way.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“when an addict hits rock bottom, they call it ‘a moment of clarity’. The fog lifts long enough, whether for a minute, an hour, or a day, but long enough for us to get a glimpse of what we’ve done to ourselves. We see what we’ve become. It’s at that moment that some addicts take their lives, and others are able to ask for help.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“But more and more lately, I felt myself
being pulled in his direction, like a game of tug-of-war that my heart was losing. As much as I enjoyed his friendship, I might need to put some distance between us until my heart caught up with my head.”
― Raquel Riley, Rum and Rendezvous

“I’m what?” He clears his throat. “You inspire me. Your strength and determination.”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“Are you fucking kidding me? Do you know the shit I’ve seen? Do you think sharing my feelings and knitting a fucking scarf is going to make me forget that I held my best friend’s dead, rotting body in my arms for seven fucking days while rats ate pieces of him?”
― Raquel Riley, The Darkness Within

“The way his mind worked reminded me of a hamster on a wheel, if the hamster was on crack and the wheel was attached to a race car.”
― Raquel Riley, Say Uncle

“A feeling of ease settles over me. No matter where in the world we’re stationed, if Brandt is there, I’m good. I’m home.”
― Raquel Riley