The Memory Box

by Kathryn Hughes

She kept her voice level, careful to ensure there was no trace of an accusatory tone.

‘Love at first sight can often be cured by taking a second look.’

‘Sometimes circumstances can push you in the wrong direction and you end up making bad decisions. Sometimes decisions are taken out of your hands and fate intervenes.’

‘Never underestimate normal and boring,

It just wasn’t possible to fix a broken heart. Like a shattered crystal vase, the pieces could be glued back together but it would never function the same again. There would always be the fine cracks where the water seeped out.

Good grief, is that all? I feel as though I’ve known him all my life. We all have a great deal of time on our hands in here. Plenty of opportunity to just talk and reflect on the past. After all, none of us has much future to think about.

‘There is an old Italian proverb: “When women take up a cause, you can assume it has been won.”’

We can’t cherry-pick the parts of our story we’d like to keep. Our lives are a melting pot of regrets, triumphs, sorrow and joy. You have to accept it all.’

‘The connection between smell and emotion is stronger than any other sense.’

‘Be grateful for the time you did have instead of regretful for the time you didn’t,’ I say.