Michal

“I can't say if you're a good person or not. But the more I know of you, the more I understand that the world keeps making you choose between survival and martyrdom. No one should fault you for wanting to live.”
― Margaret Owen, Little Thieves

“It always seems to be morning when she remembers things. I open my eyes to the roll of the ship and the sight of her watching me with her thoughtful, gold gaze, and then she’ll say something monumental, delivering it as it’s as magnificent as which socks I should wear that day.
Luta Voma, she said.
What? I said, confused.
LV, she said. Linta.
Linta? Ahsoken?
LV! Luta Voma!
I was trying to wake up, trying to form thoughts around why the words luta voma should be dropping into my consciousness with a splash of what sleepily felt like surprise.
Isn’t luta voma a Keepish expression for hope? I finally managed.
No, she said. Toma voma is hope.
Luta voma is something else, she said. Trust.
So, your prior name was Trust and your new name is Hope? I said. Isn’t that a strange coincidence, that they’re so similar?
No, she said. Girl tried many names before Hope agreed. Remember? Before, Hope liked Luta Voma. Now, Hope likes Hope.
It made me wonder, wish, that something essential remains, no matter how much we are hurt.”
― Kristin Cashore, Seasparrow

“His nose brushed my neck. As the ship climbed a wave, I relaxed against him, but didn’t turn. Listened to his quiet words as he told me about his day, asked me about mine. When he smiled, I felt his lips on my skin.
We are moving; we’re not stuck. But we’re taking this more slowly than anyone ever has. We’re thinking about now, not where we’re going. We’re paying attention to what we’re building. That’s the way we choose.”
― Kristin Cashore, Seasparrow

“Love is hope for other people.”
― Kristin Cashore, Seasparrow