It's not like a stab wound you can protect me from. It's like a million little paper cuts every day.

“But he would understand,” he said dazedly. “If we explained it to him. If we to…”

“Will bit at his lip. This was the last time Jem, as Jem, might ever touch him. …”

“The only way you would have failed," she said, "is if you had.”

“What do you need the phone for, Alec?” “We just need it,” Alec said impatiently…”