Ah, love. That’s what the world has lost. There’s no more love, only the illusion of it. — Lauren DeStefano Illusion Copy Share Image
I don't know if it was love or an illusion. I don't know if there's ever a way to be certain. — Lauren DeStefano Certain Copy Share Image
Living in a place like this, she must have learned how to see all the monsters that can hide a person. — Lauren DeStefano Monsters Copy Share Image
“There are pillow creases on her face, and she cringes whenever she moves her legs.” — Lauren DeStefano Creases Copy Share Image
She would do anything, anything to belong to his son after a lifetime of belonging to no one at all. — Lauren DeStefano Belong Copy Share Image
“This isn’t living, what all of us are doing. We drive down long, dilapidated back roads.” — Lauren DeStefano Drive Copy Share Image
“I thought for sure she was gone. But there was a little bit left in her, wasn't there? Just enough.” — Lauren DeStefano Gone Copy Share Image
He says one word, nodding into the daylight. "Look." It's an astounding word. It's a gift. — Lauren DeStefano Daylight Copy Share Image
She's been conned, ruined, left for dead, and she's not going to forgive any of it. She will soldier on, if only… — Lauren DeStefano Forgiving Copy Share Image
“Now isn't the time to be angry with my brother, but I suppose the anger I feel for him never goes away.… — Lauren DeStefano Anger Copy Share Image
You have a way of looking at things. You make it seem as though everything's going to be okay. I can't imagine… — Lauren DeStefano Dangerous Copy Share Image
“Whenever there's something I don't like about a stranger, I try to imagine that someone out there loves them, and it puts… — Lauren DeStefano Love Copy Share Image
Life is much different from the days when there were lilies in my mother’s garden, and all my secrets fit into a… — Lauren DeStefano Cups Copy Share Image
No matter how lonely it makes me, and no matter how wide and horrific the loneliness, at least I remember who I… — Lauren DeStefano Horrific Copy Share Image
I can hear my brother's voice in my head. Your problem is that you're too emotional. But how can I not be… — Lauren DeStefano Brother Copy Share Image
“This was the way it had always been between them. The world tried to destroy them, but they kept each other alive.” — Lauren DeStefano Kept Copy Share Image
I nod like I'm not at all unnerved by this new cold side to him. Not cruel like his father. Not warm… — Lauren DeStefano Chosen Copy Share Image
He looks at me, and I don't know what he sees. I used to think it was Rose. But she's not here… — Lauren DeStefano Book Copy Share Image
“I wish I could remember it. I wish I had a memory of that first violent shove, the shock of cold air,… — Lauren DeStefano Cold air Copy Share Image
“This is the real Madame. I can see why she hides herself in accents and gems and exotic perfumes. I can see… — Lauren DeStefano Broken Copy Share Image
We can change so many times in our lives. We're born into a family, and it's the only life we can imagine,… — Lauren DeStefano Born Copy Share Image
I wanted to be rid of him," he says. He raises my chin with his thumb. "But not if it meant being… — Lauren DeStefano Bed Copy Share Image
I want to make a world more magical than my own. I don't care if it makes sense, I don't care if… — Lauren DeStefano Care Copy Share Image
“I watch the perfectly imperfect people several stories below, living their perfectly imperfect lives, and I think about how many decades will… — Lauren DeStefano Life Copy Share Image
Tell me about yourself." "Myself?" He looks confused. "Yes," I say, patting the mattress. "You know all there is to know," he… — Lauren DeStefano About yourself Copy Share Image
Suddenly the clouds seem high above us. They’re moving over us in an arch, circling the planet. They have seen abysmal oceans… — Lauren DeStefano Arches Copy Share Image
“I don't know how it happens. We move our faces at the same time, and then our lips are touching. I've lost… — Lauren DeStefano Gaze Copy Share Image
“Rhine: It's okay that you miss her. She was the love of your life. Linden: Not the only love. It feels wrong… — Lauren DeStefano Life Copy Share Image
I've done it all before, I tell myself, and I can do it again. Trust is the strongest weapon. — Lauren DeStefano Done Copy Share Image
But there’s no such thing as free. There are only different and more horrible ways to be enslaved. — Lauren DeStefano Different Copy Share Image
“I wonder if the people of the ground ever feel that their children are too big for their world, too.” — Lauren DeStefano Child Copy Share Image
I always knew I was an excellent liar; I just didn't know that I had it in me to fool myself. — Lauren DeStefano Excellent Copy Share Image
There's a sort of dead passion in him. A spark that, had he more years to live, would be a wildfire. — Lauren DeStefano Passion Copy Share Image
Home?' I say. It's a word that can mean anywhere and nowhere. — Lauren DeStefano Home Copy Share Image
