Clo

“Hua Cheng disagreed respectfully. “You never know. I don’t care if anyone else is disappointed. But to some, the very existence of a certain person in this world is in itself hope.”
― Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù, Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 2

“So it’s your home,” Xie Lian commented.
“Residence,” Hua Cheng corrected. “Not a home.”
“Is there a difference?” Xie Lian asked.
“Of course,” Hua Cheng replied. “A home has family. A place where someone lives alone is not a home.”
― Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù, Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 2

“When he died, all things soft and beautiful and bright would be buried with him.”
― Madeline Miller, The Song of Achilles

“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