Run Away

by Harlan Coben

Money may not buy happiness, but…well, nonsense. Money, pretty much more than anything else you might be able to control, can conjure up and elevate that elusive ideal we call happiness. Money eases stress. It provides better education, better food, better doctors—some level of peace of mind. Money provides comfort and freedom. Money buys you experiences and conveniences and most of all, money buys you time, which, Simon had realized, was right up there with family and health.

You both have careers and you raise kids and there are victories and defeats and you just sort of coast along, living your life, the days long, the years short, and then every once in a while, you remember to pull up and look at your partner, your life partner, really look at the one who travels down the lonely road right by your side, and you realize how much you are in this together.

part of the human condition is that all decent people think they are phonies and don’t belong at some point or another.

a comforting delusion beats harsh reality.

The richer and denser the memory of an event—for example, during moments when you are terrified—the longer you perceive that event lasted.

Because demons never die. But neither do secrets.