Instauration Quotes

“I retreat into my book—the number one reason why one should always have a book when out in public.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Why's Daddy crying?"

"It's happy crying. Sometimes you feel so happy that all the laughing in the world doesn't let it out, so you cry, too.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“How are we going to do this?" Sharla asks.

We. It's one of the shortest yet sweetest words in the English language. So often unobserved and disregarded. But, right now, it's everything.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“I can't wait to leave tomorrow, all the more so because of Eric's Morse code message yesterday. It was a reminder there are places where people are normal and good. It's easy to forget that in here.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“...the thought that I'm responsible for Roger makes me want to nap on the stairs. I don't want to be good for him. I don't want him to need me, or to think he does, in order to do the right thing.

"Can I be honest?" I ask after Indy and Paul disappear through the lobby door. Walt stops on the landing and nods. "I like Roger. I encourage him to take care of himself, and I think he's a good person. But I'm not looking to be someone's reason for sobriety. I tried years with my mother, and it's doomed to fail.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Artie grabs me in a hug. "I've wanted to say thank you since I saw you last." His eyes water behind his glasses. Thank you. I'd have a bullet in my bran if it wasn't for you."

I shrug. It seems so long ago, and it's hard to feel good about that when I feel like a jerk for more recent events.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Kate exudes a gentle acceptance, like you could tell her your worst secret and she'd shrug it off. My own mother was the same, and I miss her more than ever. She'd assure me almost nothing's unfixable if it's worth fixing.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“This is Grace's fault. Years of glorious unfruitful sex, and I get pregnant the second I put on her stupid fertility necklace. Now I'm a single mother, which was my worst fear, worse than being a married mother. Grace used to say the universe gives us the things we fear in order to show us we're stronger than we think.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Eric wouldn't sit back and watch it unfold, and his injuries mean he's no longer as nimble as he was. I'm annoyed that I'm worried, though hoping he's safe doesn't mean I forgive him.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Your fidelity is formidable, Sylvia. To have it questioned and then cast away must have felt as though he didn't know who you are, or he didn't care.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“It hurt that life went on without me—was fun without me—even if that's truly what I would want for Sylvie. I felt weak. Useless. I don't fault myself for having those feelings, but the blame falls at my feet that, instead of sucking it up, I gave in to them.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Talk to me," I say.

He shrugs, jaw working. "There's nothing to say."

I wait a few minutes, but he doesn't speak. This is how it feels to be on the other side of the emotional wall. It's every bit as frustrating as I've been told.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Except, when he was an asshole, you felt that much more alone," I say quietly. "And when he wasn't an asshole, you were overly grateful for any crumb he threw your way.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Funny how all these years, I swore I was a born-again pacifist," Kate says. "But you never know what you'll do in a situation until you're in it.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Sylvie, I didn't mean to—"

"You didn't mean to what?" I ask, my voice venomous. "You didn't mean to kill people? You let your brother in. I don't care what you meant, I care what you did.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“She wasn't mad at him. More like quietly disappointed."

"Quiet disappointment is the worst."

"My parents were great at it. So was Maria.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Sylvie would be insulted if I so much as implied I don't trust her. More than insulted—she'd be wounded. Like most hotheaded emotions, envy takes on a life of its own and obscures the truth. And the truth is that we love each other, and I can't imagine it being any other way.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Brother David says some prisons are in our minds. Your brother isn't here, so why let him in there?”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Now you'll be on guard," Sylvie says. "Put yourself on my shifts."

Casper shrugs. "I still have to pass—"

"You're going to pass, and you're going to shove it in Roger's face, and it's going to be beautiful, Envision the world you want to live in.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“To paraphrase Goethe: Impotent hatred is the worst of all emotions; one should hate nobody whom one can't destroy.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Indeed. If they won't, we have a right to defend ourselves. Maybe they do deserve punishment, but there's nothing we can do about it now. And, in the meantime, hate is poor comfort compared to what you still have to comfort you. So, tell me, who's being punished?”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“But I do believe mercy is first and foremost a gift to ourselves, not to the ones we show mercy.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Another two weeks here has me feeling both better and worse about this place. I'm used to it, the way you can get used to anything if you have to.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“But you're right—there's no escaping small minds. Why is it that they grow large enough to take over?”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Maybe Roger isn't so bad when you get to know him, which I've found is the case with most people.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“I warm at the knowledge Eric cares for me in these quiet ways he doesn't think to mention. It's a new thing—a lovely thing—to be cared for like that.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Someone leans on the counter beside me. "You need a cigarette?"

It's Punk Rock from the café, with an unlit cigarette behind his ear, which he removes and taps filter-down on the counter. If it were anyone else, I'd take it in a hot second, but I find his persona annoying even without the added bonus that he's a bully.

"No, thanks," I say, and turn to Artie.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Kate hovers a hand above my cookie. "You really don't want it? Eric said you wouldn't be able to resist cookies."

"I'm stronger than he thinks," I say aloud, and then to myself, And infinitely more awkward than he realizes.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration

“Right now, your brain is a bad neighborhood, and we’re not letting you wander around in there alone.”
― Sarah Lyons Fleming, Instauration