The Rest of Us Just Live Here

by Patrick Ness

“I just feel like my body is in all these different pieces and even though it looks like I’m all put together, the pieces are really just floating there and if I fall down too hard, I’ll fly apart.”

“The mistake of every adult, though, is to think darkness and hardship aren’t important to young people because we’ll grow out of it. Who cares if we will? Life is happening to us now, just like it’s happening to you.”

“Feelings don’t try to kill you, even the painful ones. Anxiety is a feeling grown too large. A feeling grown aggressive and dangerous. You’re responsible for its consequences, you’re responsible for treating it. But Michael, you’re not responsible for causing it. You’re not morally at fault for it. No more than you would be for a tumor.”

Kindness is the most important thing of all. Pity is an insult. Kindness is a miracle.”

“We’re each other’s questions, aren’t we? The question that never gets an answer.”

“No, but if you heal all that stuff, I’ll live the rest of my life not knowing if I could have figured it out on my own.”