Shannon

“Where does jealousy come from, if not an insecurity that I'll lose you because of him? But that's not how it works, no matter how many people believe it so. You're not something to be kept or taken, and love isn't some scarce resource to battle over. Love can be infinite , as much as your heart can open. I mean, when you think about it, love is fueled mostly by compatibility. Whether two people make each other happy by being close. So it'd be pointless of me to resent Shimin. However compatible you are with him, it doesn't have anything to do with how compatible you are with me.”
― Xiran Jay Zhao, Iron Widow

“Was it worrisome that he felt nothing but pleasure to be held at her mercy?”
― Tahereh Mafi, This Woven Kingdom

“You, dear reader, earnestly play all your parts. The roles that were assigned to you without your consent are stuck to your body like a label: A label that you can’t remove before death. A label that can’t be removed even after death. The labels are invisible. They’re not really there, you know. They’ve melted into your flesh. They may have even made their home in a deeper, more abstract part of you. You won’t be able to fish them out even if you’re sliced up to the point that your bones are exposed and your guts are spilling out of your carcass.”
― Dolki Min, Walking Practice

“You can grow attached to a hammer, it's still a hammer. You can think you care for someone and still utilize them, abuse them, like a tool.”
― Marina J. Lostetter, Activation Degradation