The Gender Secret Quotes

“When society believes that an eye for an eye is acceptable, eventually everyone will go blind.” At”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“Cruelty didn’t have a gender qualifier behind it—it was an ever unraveling human condition, cast out by pride, power, and indifference—and”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“Keeping secrets is the cancer”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“But the more I thought about it, the more I felt like it was turning a blind eye to the truth. Ignoring evidence to make the narrative work. That’s not who I am or who I want to be.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“In that moment, I was suddenly grateful to Violet. Compassion burned in her like a beacon, and I couldn’t help but be attracted to it like a moth to a flame. Since my wife had died, I had cut off almost everyone I had known. It was easier that way— easier not to feel. How misguided I was: The feelings didn’t go away. I had just buried them under a veneer of calm. I had become so distanced from humanity, so apart from it, that I had forgotten that life was precious.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“Lies were increasingly common, I had learned, which made the truth worth more.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“Mother had always told me being Queen of Matrus was like being a clockmaker: you put the right people for the job in the right place, and let them do what they did best.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“Honesty is an undervalued commodity. Keeping secrets is the cancer that is slowly killing Matrus and Patrus. Given enough time, and lies, both places would fail, and the last vestiges of humanity would disappear from this earth. I don’t have time for it. And also, I have found that honesty can inspire people. I won’t let my people go into any situation against their will, and I won’t lie to spare them uncomfortable truths about what they are getting into. It builds trust, and separates me from Matrus and Patrus. I don’t have time to be anything but honest.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“I deserved the tears that were flooding down my cheeks. I had earned them in blood and sweat, and by defying the odds. I had defied death itself and won, at least for the moment.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“I felt a surge of anger at her for disregarding my noble self-sacrifice. I”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“After the noise had stopped, I dared to open my eyes. Branches”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“and you need to get this survival mindset out of your head, and return to the land of being a decent human being.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“Honesty is an undervalued commodity.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“As I stepped out of the stall, steam billowing behind me and fogging up the mirror, I felt more whole, like a small part of my dignity had been restored.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“There was a certain amount of civility that came from having a shower for the first time in a long time. It was like I ceased being an animal locked in a constant battle over fight and flight reflexes, and started being a higher functioning human.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“don’t help you, you’ll still help me? Free of charge?” She laughed, and the sound reminded me of wind chimes—bright and beautiful. “Nothing is ever free, Violet. I would, of course, ask you to accompany Owen on any expedition to steal the equipment needed, but I assume you would want to go along anyway.” I frowned. Again, that blunt information, freely given with an intense sincerity. For good or for bad, she didn’t pull a punch. “Why are you so…” I waved my hand, trying to pick a good word that wouldn’t insult her. “Blunt?” she offered, a small smile playing at her lips. I nodded and she shrugged. “Honesty is an undervalued commodity. Keeping secrets is the cancer that is slowly killing Matrus and Patrus. Given enough time, and lies, both places would fail, and the last vestiges of humanity would disappear from this earth. I don’t have time for it. And also, I have found that honesty can inspire people. I won’t let my people go into any situation against their will, and I won’t lie to spare them uncomfortable truths about what they are getting into. It builds trust, and separates me from Matrus and Patrus. I don’t have time to”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“My legs and arms were starting to tingle from being held in that one position, but I ignored it—or at least, I tried to. It started at my ankles, and began working its way up my shins and to my knees. I didn’t dare move my legs to stretch them out, but the prickling sensation was starting to irritate me. So, I reached down and began rubbing my legs with my free hand. As I smoothed down the fabric of my dress, I froze as I felt something roil under my hand. Quivering, I removed my hand, and began to draw up my skirt, the sound of fabric sliding across my skin filling the small space of the log. It spilled over my knee and I clapped a hand over my mouth to keep from screaming at the long black centipede clinging to my leg. I became aware of other movements around me, and felt the brush of thousands of sharp little legs. Something shifted behind me, disturbing my hair, and I felt the weight of a hard body pressing into my scalp. I screamed and scrambled out of the hole, jerking my bag around me. Three centipedes hit the ground as I shook my body and head frantically, trying to dislodge the creatures. I shuddered, crying openly now as I continued to shake myself, my mind and body convinced there were more on me. I ran hands over my arms and hair, trying to make sure they were all clear. Revulsion welled up in me at the thought of any of those insects on me, their tiny little legs pricking into my flesh, crawling over me. I couldn’t seem to stop shaking, and had to take the mask off a few times to wipe my face and the glass lenses as cold tears spilled down my cheeks. I realized I was having a panic attack. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, trying to convince myself that they were gone.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“Be angry, don’t be cruel.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“I had to stop wanting to believe that her affection for me had been genuine. It was a stupid, pathetic hope, built on loneliness and the desire to feel close to someone again.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“She had reminded me what it was like to feel connected to another human being; to discover a kindred spirit in a world of meaningless interactions.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“I had believed, foolishly, that if I just told the truth, I would be believed, but nobody cared about the story of a criminal.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“When society believes that an eye for an eye is acceptable, eventually everyone will go blind.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“Lefty loosey, righty tighty,”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“Violet’s hand on my shoulder jerked my mind back to reality. I had been running on auto-pilot, but now I felt blood pouring from multiple bite wounds on my neck and arm—Violet had been doing her best to keep the red flies off of me, but they’d still gotten through. I glanced over at her. She was pointing off to the left, and shouting something. I realized that I was having problems understanding her—likely the blood loss and exhaustion were messing with my senses.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“Keeping secrets is the cancer that is slowly killing Matrus and Patrus. Given enough time, and lies, both places would fail, and the last vestiges of humanity would disappear from this earth. I don’t have time for it. And also, I have found that honesty can inspire people. I won’t let my people go into any situation against their will, and I won’t lie to spare them uncomfortable truths about what they are getting into. It builds trust, and separates me from Matrus and Patrus. I don’t have time to be anything but honest.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“She slid the dagger into the hidden sheath at her belt before lifting her hand, twirling her fingers around in a circle. With a sigh, I turned around slowly, allowing her to inspect my new queenly appearance. After making”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“I spoke,”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret

“I knelt in front of the throne as the crown was lowered onto my head. The crowd that filled the royal courtyard gave a half-hearted cheer. I could sense their pain and confusion. They had not been given enough time to mourn—none of us had. My mother’s death had come too soon, and nobody had been prepared.”
― Bella Forrest, The Gender Secret