Alicia

“He came to life when she smiled, drew breath when her eyes brightened, died when she left a room.”
― Tahereh Mafi, All This Twisted Glory

“The clan is my blood, and the Pillar is its master.
On my honor, my life, and my jade.”
― Fonda Lee, Jade City

“She closes her eyes. He probably won’t come back, she thinks. Or he will, differently. What they have now they can never have back again. But for her the pain of loneliness will be nothing to the pain that she used to feel, of being unworthy. He brought her goodness like a gift and now it belongs to her. Meanwhile his life opens out before him in all directions at once. They’ve done a lot of good for each other. Really, she thinks, really. People can really change one another.
You should go, she says. I’ll always be here. You know that.”
― Sally Rooney, Normal People

“I almost laughed. “You would rather me eat your heart than look away in disgust?”
“Of course,” he breathed. “Every time.”
― Ava Reid, Juniper & Thorn