The Gifting Quotes

“Just because a lot of people believe something doesn’t make it true.”
― K.E. Ganshert, The Gifting

“In a world where God does not exist, where science has done everything to systematically remove any sort of deity from society, does she turn to one anyway? Despite all its answers and logic, science offers no comfort, no hope. Not at times like these.”
― K.E. Ganshert, The Gifting

“The past is the past. It’s done. It’s over. It only has power if you let it keep you from making the right choice in the present.”
― K.E. Ganshert, The Gifting

“I take a deep breath, as if the key to confidence is an extra dose of oxygen.”
― K.E. Ganshert, The Gifting

“My voice escapes like a mouse.”
― K.E. Ganshert, The Gifting

“A presence that makes my breath come so quick and so shallow, I worry I might be having a panic attack. I glance at Pete and Elliana flirting, at Rose sticking her tongue out at J.R., and I can’t figure out how they don’t feel it.”
― K.E. Ganshert, The Gifting

“Whoops. Didn’t see you there.” The class erupts in giggles. I look up to find the smug face of one of Summer’s groupies, her expression filled with such abhorrence, I’m too flustered to respond.”
― K.E. Ganshert, The Gifting

“I don’t tell the doctor about what I saw in Mr. Lotsam’s class. I’m not ready to divulge that yet. Dreams can be explained.”
― K.E. Ganshert, The Gifting

“My dreams are disjointed. I try finding the beach and Luka, but I can’t. Instead, I end up back at the hospital. Not Pete’s, but Shady Wood, staring at rows upon rows of comatose bodies. I’m not sure if the machines are keeping them alive or keeping them from living. I want to unhook them. I want to set them free from this dark, oppressive place. But when I try, nothing is solid. It’s all vapor. When I wake up, I write everything down, then spend the rest of Sunday visiting Pete, yearning—no aching—for Luka. That night, my dreams are the same. Me, trying to get to Luka but ending up at Shady Wood instead. Me, trying to free those people. Me, failing at both. I’m happy and relieved when I wake up. It’s Monday morning, which means school. While my parents will go to many lengths to keep me from Luka, robbing me of my right to an education is not one of them. I pray that Luka’s parents are the same. Mom drives. As soon as she pulls up to the front entrance, I fling open the door and hurry toward the school, brushing off the looks and the whispers. As soon as I step inside the building, Luka is there. He grabs my face between his hands and kisses me. Full on the mouth. The shock of his lips on mine turns my kneecaps to putty. Luka is kissing me. He’s kissing me, right there in the locker bay in front of everyone. And I’m so stunned by it all, so caught off guard, that my body has morphed into a ragdoll. A really hot, tingly ragdoll. When he pulls away, my head spins. My lips throb in the best possible way. Several students gape. He takes my hand and pulls me out of the locker bay, right outside the bathrooms, a space that is relatively empty. “You have no idea how good it is to see you.” I blink like an idiot, unable to get past his greeting. He pushes his hand through his hair. “I couldn’t get to you in my dreams. I could hear you calling out for help. But I couldn’t get to you.” I point toward the locker bay, dumbstruck. “You-you just kissed me.” A grin pulls at his lips—the very lips that were on mine seconds earlier. And then he does it again. He cups the side of my face and kisses me. His fingers move up into my hair. His other hand moves to my waist, pulling me closer. I grab onto his shirt front to keep myself upright. Luka is good at this. Much, much too good. But the kiss ends as abruptly as it began. He groans and leans against the wall. My head spins. I’ve never been kissed by a boy before. I don’t really know how these things work, but I have to imagine groaning is not a good reaction. I must be bad at it.”
― K.E. Ganshert, The Gifting

“Why do guys always go for the pretty face and the lithe body, oblivious to the ugliness inside?”
― K.E. Ganshert, The Gifting

“Listen, Tess. The past is the past. It’s done. It’s over. It only has power if you let it keep you from making the right choice in the present.”
― K.E. Ganshert, The Gifting

“In a world where God does not exist, where science has done everything to systematically remove any sort of deity from society, does she turn to one anyway? Despite all its answers and logic, science offers no comfort, no hope. Not at times like these. I”
― K.E. Ganshert, The Gifting

“I don’t want to feel. I need the protection from feeling. I’m not sure I can handle any of it. When”
― K.E. Ganshert, The Gifting

“Isn’t killing killers”—he finger-quotes the word—“a little ironic?” The”
― K.E. Ganshert, The Gifting