Hangsaman

by Shirley Jackson

it was never possible for her to tell whether his face was so familiar because it strongly resembled her own, or because she saw it three times a day across the table.

“Little Natalie, never rest until you have uncovered your essential self. Remember that. Somewhere, deep inside you, hidden by all sorts of fears and worries and petty little thoughts, is a clean pure being made of radiant colors.”