J

“I suppose a fire that burns that bright is not meant to last.”
― Veronica Roth, Allegiant

“There are so many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater.

But sometimes it doesn't.

Sometimes it is nothing more than gritting your teeth through pain, and the work of every day, the slow walk toward a better life.

That is the sort of bravery I must have now.”
― Veronica Roth, Allegiant

“I am a shark, Cassie," he says slowly, drawing the words out, as if he might be speaking to me for the last time. Looking into my eyes with tears in his, as if he's seeing me for the last time. "A shark who dreamed he was a man.”
― Rick Yancey, The 5th Wave

“How do you find a name?"
"In this case, on a shampoo bottle. It's one of the ingredients; Sodium Laureth Sulphate. He thought it was a beautiful word and sounded like a name."
"He's right."
"Mum didn't think so. He swears he told her at the time where it came from, and maybe he did, but she was too ill to remember. I was seven when she found out, and then she hit the roof. 'You named our daughter after a chemical!' That kind of thing."
"I still think it's a cool name," said Sam, and I could hear the smile in his voice. It was a soft voice, too. I liked it.
"And very beautiful," he added.
"Thank you," I said, feeling a little warm inside.
"And that's why I have such a boring name," said Benjamin.
"Oh, hey," said Sam. "That's a cool name, too."
"No, it's not," said Benjamin. "There are two Bens in my class. Mum said she was going to choose my name when I was born. Dad wasn't allowed. So I got a boring name. But that's why Stan's called Stan."
"Because you wanted him to have a boring name, too?"
"Stan's not a boring name. It's short for Stannous."
"Stannous?"
"Stannous Chloride," I said. "It's a chemical. It was on a tube of toothpaste."
Sam laughed.
"Mum hit the roof," said Benjamin, proudly.”
― Marcus Sedgwick, She Is Not Invisible