Lauren

“What would I say?” I ask. “If I wanted to, you know, pray?” Two of my mother’s synagogue friends eye me jealously from across the room. I would die if anyone overheard this conversation. “Well, there are books. But you can also just say what’s in your heart. Say what feels right to you.” “But … where would I even start?” “Oh, you can start very simple,” he says. “Two of my favorite prayers are ‘Help me’ and ‘Thank you.’” “Those are prayers?” “Those are excellent prayers.”
― Coco Mellors, Cleopatra and Frankenstein

“She’d learned early that it was quicker to bond with another person over what you didn’t like than what you did, and that the easiest way to feel close to someone was to do something transgressive together. That’s why smokers always made friends.”
― Coco Mellors, Cleopatra and Frankenstein

“He stood up, grabbed my hot chocolate and walked out of the bakery", said Cleo. "He even left his jacket. I thought he was storming out in a rage, but when I looked up, he was standing outside, holding my cup out to catch the snow."
"Why?", asked Zoe, stifling a yawn.
"To cool it down," said Cleo.”
― Coco Mellors, Cleopatra and Frankenstein

“Fondness was the best word she could think of to describe what they felt for each other. Fondness was warm but not tepid, the color of amber, more affectionate than friendship but less complicated than love.”
― Coco Mellors, Cleopatra and Frankenstein