What the Woods Took Quotes

“She’s made of every bad thing that has happened to her, just like she’s made of every good thing. She’s made of every good thing before the woods and every good thing she found in its unyielding grip.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“There were monsters following Devin before she ever got to these woods.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“It feels pointless. Even if he makes it back to Portland, stands on a cement sidewalk again, eats a french fry, he imagines a part of him will still be in these woods. Like a bit of fabric snagged on the leaves, he’s sure he’s already left a piece of himself here. Something he can’t get back.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“We survived shit most people can’t even imagine,” Devin says quietly. “We’ve seen the worst. I’m not … I don’t know anything, but I think the rest of it will just be echoes.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“Big talk about being honest, but she can’t even say this out loud. If she says it, she’ll look small. If she says it, Sheridan will know all about the rotten seed he planted in her.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“Some people don’t have the self-awareness to be miserable”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“She should’ve gotten to do it all herself,” Ollie says finally. “You think she wouldn’t have been able to, but she would’ve. You can say anything you want about doing this for her, but you took it away from her.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“I think tonight I’ll invite my creature inside.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“Normally, Devin would try to stop this. She’d make an attempt to save face. But she’s raw and bleeding and she can’t remember the last time she was held like this. She can’t remember if she’s ever been held like this.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“The sun dapples the trees in orange light and a part of Devin worries that it’s too beautiful, too serene to taint with the ugliest secret she has.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“Devin tries not to feel naked, knowing the others have seen the face that’s polluted Devin’s nightmares for years. They’ve heard the voice Devin can’t scrape from her head. She doesn’t need to explain Mr. Atwood to anyone—half of her would rather die than have to say it out loud—but she wants to say it to someone. If the monsters in these woods get to broadcast all the worst of it, if they can use it against her, she deserves to tell someone herself.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“In an instant, Devin sees this for what it is. The only universe Sheridan can imagine where she cares for someone—where someone cares for her—is one where it was never real. Where it was all a ploy.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“Talking about it means she’d have to understand what happened.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“He’s a wound opening again and again, not even given a chance to scar.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“There are dozens of people on this street who could help them, but Devin isn’t surprised they don’t. Seventeen years of jumping from house to house teaches you that what should happen rarely ever does. Counting on someone else to help is like waiting to pay your bills until you’ve won the lottery. If you don’t figure out how to take care of yourself without it, you’ve already lost.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“There was one face they used to hurt him most in the woods. He tries not to shovel that fear onto his living, human father. But sometimes, when he looks at his father, he can’t see the difference.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“There’s something comforting about living unseen, knowing your wounds are yours to nurse alone.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took

“Her presence fills every inch of the can, her presence swallows Ollie's alive.”
― Courtney Gould, What the Woods Took