Vanna

“How many times have you tried to talk to someone about something that matters to you, tried to get them to see it the way you do? And how many of those times have ended with you feeling bitter, resenting them for making you feel like your pain doesn't have any substance after all?

Like when you've split up with someone, and you try to communicate the way you feel, because you need to say the words, need to feel that somebody understands just how pissed off and frightened you feel. The problem is, they never do. "Plenty more fish in the sea," they'll say, or "You're better off without them," or "Do you want some of these potato chips?" They never really understand, because they haven't been there, every day, every hour. They don't know the way things have been, the way that it's made you, the way it has structured your world. They'll never realise that someone who makes you feel bad may be the person you need most in the world. They don't understand the history, the background, don't know the pillars of memory that hold you up. Ultimately, they don't know you well enough, and they never can. Everyone's alone in their world, because everybody's life is different. You can send people letters, and show them photos, but they can never come to visit where you live.

Unless you love them. And then they can burn it down.”
― Michael Marshall Smith, Only Forward

“But I would fight for Darian. Sacrifice be damned, selfish or not, hopeless or not, I would fight for Darian.
I had not expectations of success, but I would try anyway, with all my meagre strength.
For Darian and for me, for my right to try, and his right to have me, and because I wanted him.”
― Alexis Hall, Glitterland

“Sometimes love isn’t pretty. It’s not neat, and it’s not textbook perfect. There’s no template for love. Sometimes it’s dirty. Sometimes it’s a bit creepy. And sometimes it hurts.”
― Alessandra Hazard, Just a Bit Obsessed

“I gotta say, babes," he said in a nasal Essex whine, "you're giving me sutcha bedroom look."
I stared down into his face, so close to mine. Babes?”
― Alexis Hall, Glitterland