Sucaloca

“There’s a kind of time travel in letters, isn’t there? I imagine you laughing at my small joke; I imagine you groaning; I imagine you throwing my words away. Do I have you still? Do I address empty air and the flies that will eat this carcass? You could leave me for five years, you could return never—and I have to write the rest of this not knowing.”
― Amal El-Mohtar, This Is How You Lose the Time War

“I thought: I cannot bear this world a moment longer. Then, child, make another.”
― Madeline Miller, Circe

“It was hard sometimes,” Sota said then, and Carmen bowed her head.

“I don’t think it’s ever easy to make your own family,” she answered. “You’re not supposed to have to.”

Sota nodded. “But we did alright, didn’t we?” His eyes, for once, weren’t serious or masked with painted-on mischief. They were open, almost vulnerable. Carmen had never seen him this way.

“We did great.” Carmen stood, stepping forward. This time, when she reached for him, he reached back, and they hugged like the children they had been when they found each other.”
― Tehlor Kay Mejia, We Unleash the Merciless Storm

“It doesn't feel like it now, but one day you'll be scared of becoming the person you are today.”
― Tanya Byrne, Afterlove