aishah

“You knew him in the other timeline, didn’t you? That’s why you were so upset when he came after you in this one. You care about him, and he doesn’t remember you anymore.”
― Vanessa Len, Never a Hero

“You ever seen two chess masters play?” Astrid said. “They never actually finish the game. Partway through, they both see the outcome. They stop playing, they shake hands, and they leave. What’s the point in going through the motions when you know how the game will end?”
― Vanessa Len, Never a Hero

“Sometimes she even talked about herself as half. Half-monster, half-human. Half-English, half-Chinese. As if she were made of construction blocks that had been put together and could be disassembled again. But that wasn't how she felt inside.”
― Vanessa Len, Never a Hero

“You were a hero,” Joan said. “Not just a hero. You were a legend. Like King Arthur.”
Nick went to laugh, but the uncertain amusement died on his face when he saw that Joan wasn’t laughing with him. “You can’t be serious,” he said.
“My grandmother used to tell me bedtime stories about you,” Joan said.
“People aren’t afraid of heroes.”
It wasn’t funny, but Joan heard her breath come out hard.
For a moment, he looked confused, and then understanding. put a shadow in his eyes. “Monsters are.”
“You were a hero,” Joan said, needing him to understand. “You were more than just a hero. You were the hero. People told stories about you. Made art depicting you.”
― Vanessa Len, Never a Hero