Shadow

“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.”
― Mark Twain

“I don't want to be a great big tragedy anymore," Regulus cokes out, looking at him almost desperately.
"Me neither," James admits. "Maybe someday, we won't be. Maybe, one day, well look at each other and see that other life, and maybe we actually get to have it. I can find it in we to hope for that, even after everything. I've had so much practice these last ten years, so I'll just do it for us both.”
― Bizarrestars, Crimson Rivers

“Name one hero who was happy."
I considered. Heracles went mad and killed his family; Theseus lost his bride and father; Jason's children and new wife were murdered by his old; Bellerophon killed the Chimera but was crippled by the fall from Pegasus' back.
"You can't." He was sitting up now, leaning forward.
"I can't."
"I know. They never let you be famous AND happy." He lifted an eyebrow. "I'll tell you a secret."
"Tell me." I loved it when he was like this.
"I'm going to be the first." He took my palm and held it to his. "Swear it."
"Why me?"
"Because you're the reason. Swear it."
"I swear it," I said, lost in the high color of his cheeks, the flame in his eyes.
"I swear it," he echoed.
We sat like that a moment, hands touching. He grinned.
"I feel like I could eat the world raw.”
― Madeline Miller, The Song of Achilles

“The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.”
― Mark Twain