"What I didn’t understand then, but realize now, is that he was willing to drive into an active terrorist attack to get me there."

"A younger version of myself would’ve yearned to speak, because my love was loud."

"I amassed a debt of sleep and a debt of grief. "

“Jack-a-loved-her.”

“I would tell others to be open to and appreciative of changes in the plan.”

"This is not a love story. This is the first semester of community college..."

"My tits smell like cheese these days. Sharp white cheddar, if you’d like specifics."

I don’t yet know how good I have it.

“O, she so wanted to be saved.”

The truth was I didn’t know exactly why—I only knew I wanted a different kind of life.