People like to dig up the bodies, anguish over mistakes. What’s the point? The water’s poisoned. There’s no cleaning it up after it’s done. The only thing you can do is walk away – and set fire to your bridges.

There was certainly plenty in her own past that she was reluctant to look at. Because looking made it real.

Maybe it wasn’t about needing them. People hold on to all kinds of things, silly things, even broken things, because of the memories attached to them.

She said the word never represents all the doors we keep closed, that when we say never we close ourselves off from the hope that things can ever be different.

I’ve never been good at letting people in, but somehow you’re here, and I’m glad.

Integrity isn’t something you have in some parts of your life and not in others. You either have it, or you don’t.

I’ve been having nightmares,” she said quietly. “Basically the same dream for months now. I’m exhausted.

Easier isn’t always best.

At ten, she learned that no address was permanent, at twelve, that no promise was sacred, and at sixteen, that there was no such thing as safe.

No,” Missy said firmly. “It isn’t. It’s all the doors we keep shut. It’s the places we won’t let ourselves go, the things we won’t let ourselves have or be, because we don’t think we’re good enough or strong enough for more. I know because that used to be me. And then I became a single parent, and I realized I didn’t have time for nevers.” She paused, her smile thin and tremulous. “All I’m saying is don’t live a smaller life than you deserve.