The Next Person You Meet in Heaven

by Mitch Albom

“We forget that ‘our’ time is linked to others’ times. We come from one. We return to one. That’s how a connected universe makes sense.”

Children begin by needing their parents. Over time, they reject them. Eventually, they become them.

But just because you have silenced a memory does not mean you are free of it.

“Because we embrace our scars more than our healing,” Lorraine said. “We can recall the exact day we got hurt, but who remembers the day the wound was gone?

“That’s how salvation works. The wrongs we do open doors to do right.”

When Annie looked down, she saw her arms were empty, and she howled in anguish, feeling utterly full and utterly vacant, which is what having and losing a child is like.

“You lose something every day you live, Annie. Sometimes it’s as tiny as the breath you just expelled, sometimes it’s so big you think you won’t survive it.”