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Kindle Notes & Highlights
“We cannot always predict the outcomes of our actions, Miss Lion, however well intended.” I stood. “What else is life but a string of outcomes beyond our control?”
“It’s messier than we ever imagined it to be as children,” he said. “What?” “Life.”
And I hadn’t realised until that moment how much I’ve missed that feeling, of someone inside your four walls watching out for you. The feeling that home isn’t just a place, but also people. I’ve forgotten it could be.
I learned a long time ago that my happiness has to be separate from the things beyond my control.”
Life never fails you in this one thing: There is always an unexpected sleight of hand.
must march forward before my desire has flown and I become one of those contented souls chained to their small routine, all the while believing themselves to be free. Don’t think I mind a routine, that’s just what I’m craving. But the right routine. My routine. Two walks a day, several hours of reading, perhaps one visit with someone I enjoy. One dinner or entertainment per week if you must, possibly two, but please let there be reading.”
It felt as if it were…what can I say? A fission? An energy? All that mounting storm he carries about his person breaking in beautiful rain. And I thought to myself, This. This sort of battle, this kind of argument, this laughter when we realise we are saying the same thing—this is what I wish from life.
How wonderful a thing to find one’s friends.
Then he said, and I quote, “Either a friendship with you is the grandest thing in the world, Miss Lion, or you are delusional. Which is it?”
“They are delightful in small doses. Like a litter of puppies, one would suspect.” “Don’t romanticize them,” Islington muttered.
