Fathima Shoaib

“Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.”
― Nicole Krauss, The History of Love

“Mom?" I said. She turned. "Can I talk to you about something?"
"Of course, darling. Come here."
I took a few steps into the room. There was so much I wanted to say.
"I need you to be --" I said, and then I started to cry.
"Be what?" she said, opening her arms.
"Not sad," I said.”
― Nicole Krauss, The History of Love

“("Let's stand under a tree," she said.

"Why?"

"Because it's nicer."

"Maybe you should sit on a chair, and I'll stand above you, like they always do with husbands and wives."

"That's stupid."

"Why's it stupid?"

"Because we're not married."

"Should we hold hands?"

"We can't."

"But why?"

"Because, people will know."

"Know what?"

"About us."

"So what if they know?"

"It's better when it's a secret."

"Why?"

"So no one can take it from us.")”
― Nicole Krauss, The History of Love

“I left the library. Crossing the street, I was hit head-on by a brutal loneliness. I felt dark and hollow. Abandoned, unnoticed, forgotten, I stood on the sidewalk, a nothing, a gatherer of dust. People hurried past me. and everyone who walked by was happier than I. I felt the old envy. I would have given anything to be one of them.”
― Nicole Krauss, The History of Love