Mirage Quotes

“You do not kneel or bend, I told myself. To anyone. You continue.”
― Somaiya Daud, Mirage

“The blood never dies. The blood never forgets.”
― Somaiya Daud, Mirage

“A cage is a cage even if gilded.”
― Somaiya Daud, Mirage

“When night falls, come and visit me, For I have seen night keeps secrets best.”
― Somaiya Daud, Mirage

“All may see the stars, but few will see their forebears.”
― Somaiya Daud, Mirage

“You are lucky", she said. "Me?" "You know where you belong. You have your family and your traditions, no one is...is screaming at you to be something else.”
― Somaiya Daud, Mirage

“You were alone."
"Not entirely." My fingers wrapped around the charm. "I had hope.”
― Somaiya Daud, Mirage

“I could want until I was dead and nothing would come to pass. Wanting never solved anything.”
― Somaiya Daud, Mirage

“The cruelty of men knew few bounds.”
― Somaiya Daud, Mirage

“Arinaas’s flame might char my skin and break my bones, but in the end I would emerge remade, newer and stronger and a version of myself no one could snuff out. I’d prayed for a sign, for hope, for a purpose in being sent to the Ziyaana.”
― Somaiya Daud, Mirage

“I urge you to come on feet faster than the wind, Come and rise over my breast and take root in me and plough me. And no matter what befalls you while we're entwined, Don't let me go until you've flushed me thrice.”
― Somaiya Daud, Mirage

“When you are raised in a place like Cadiz, in a time like ours, you learned the signs. The absolute silence, followed by the soft, near imperceptible click of metal against stone. The soft whir of gears just loud enough to announce itself. The Vath rarely sent men to our homes. When they did—well. The cruelty of men knew few bounds. So there was some relief when the first body through the door was an Imperial droid, chrome and silver, its body etched in cruel, sharp designs.”
― Somaiya Daud, Mirage

“I love it when you realize you are about to be incredibly presumptuous," she drawled. "Few people have such a skill. Please, go on.”
― Somaiya Daud, Mirage

“I'm sorry," she said.
"Sorry?"
"For... for the beginning. Nothing I do will change what I did. But -"
"Sisters fight, sometimes."
She coughed out half a laugh. "Sisters do not have one another mauled half to death by hunting birds."
"You have not read enough Kushaila folktales if you believe that."
A weak but real smile emerged on her face.
"Do you... really see me that way? As your sister?"
She wasn't looking at me, and instead focused on her hand clenching and unclenching around her mother's pendant.
"I am the youngest of my siblings," I said at last. "My elder brothers always watched over me. And now - now I will try to watch over you.”
― Somaiya Daud, Mirage