Omance Quotes

“Karṇa walks, his back is straight, he is lit up by his divine earings; yet his feet drag. He turns into an alley. His head droops and falls to his chest. He stops. Mist swirls around him, becomes motionless, parts. From between his ribs steps a young woman. Her eyes and face and tongue are brown like old blood and she is decked in old things and she wears upon her wrists two burnt black bracelets. She places the point of a knife under Karṇa’s chest plate and cuts, a gentle sawing motion, the blade moving beneath the skin, a slicing of the quick: nerves, blood vessels, sinews. I feel his pain; not a stab; it is insistent, enduring, but sharp nonetheless, as with any loss.”
― Michael Tobert, Karna's Wheel

“She didn’t trust herself to be in the presence of a slightly inebriated, good-looking, protective man at the moment. Her financial insolvency and the grief over losing her friend had left her feeling powerless and vulnerable— a dangerous combination when paired with the romantic atmosphere of the seaside moonlight.”
― Elle Jauffret, Threads of Deception: A Suddenly French Mystery

“I mean I’m sure you’re constantly worried about the embarrassment you’ll feel when it’s announced that I’m valedictorian,” I say. “But otherwise, no, I didn’t think so.” Amira looks like she maybe wants to flick me or something, but only rolls her eyes. “I get nervous all the time,” she says. She bites her lip for a second, contemplating something before she adds, “And I know you’re joking, but I do get nervous about school, for the record.” I open my mouth, and she puts a hand over it, silencing me. “Not about our rank,” she says, removing her hand from my mouth. “Though blindsiding you and becoming valedictorian does still give me a bit of a thrill when I think about it.” I don’t even dignify that with a response. Amira keeps talking.”
― Zakiya N. Jamal, If We Were a Movie