Emma

“I know before I turn that when I do, she won’t be there anymore.
I let her out of my sight, and now she’s gone. I can never stop myself from looking. From turning to the quiet, still room, feeling that painful emptiness in my chest like she’s been carved out of me.
And that’s when I wake up. Like if she can’t be there, there’s no point in dreaming at all.”
― Emily Henry, Book Lovers

“And then, God help me, on my first morning, in the first few minutes of my first morning, I felt that this alien northern countryside was friendly, that I’d turned a corner and that this summer of 1920, which was to smoulder on until the first leaves fell, was to be a propitious season of living, a blessed time.
I told myself that I didn’t care how long the job took me – what was left of July, August, September, even October. I was going to be happy, live simply, spend as little as paraffin, bread, vegetables and a bit of bully-beef now and then might cost me.”
― J.L. Carr, A Month in the Country

“Kile?” she stopped him.
He turned.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
For the first time, he appeared at a total loss. “Sorry? I don’t understand. For what?”
“This must be awful for you.”
“This must be awful . . . for me?”
“I don’t know what it is you did, what crimes you committed, but I can see this penance of yours is beyond horrible. I’d rather be the forest than the fire. Whether you succeed or not, allow me to add my voice to the many who must have thanked you over the centuries for what you are trying to do.”
Kile stared at her, dumbfounded. He blinked, balled his hands into fists, wet his lips, then took a deep and steady breath.
“What?” she asked.
“You are the first.” He turned quickly and headed for the door.”
― Michael J. Sullivan, Farilane

“People like to remember childhood as all magic and no responsibilities, but that’s not really how it is. You have absolutely no control over your environment. It all comes down to the adults in your life, and . . . I don’t know. Every time Libby has a new kid, it’s like there’s this magic house in my heart that rearranges to make a new room for the baby. “And it always hurts. It’s terrifying. One more person who needs you.”
― Emily Henry, Book Lovers