“All emotion receded, pulled out like low tide, leaving my brain an empty ocean bottom” — Laura Wiess Emotion Copy Share Image
“The ache starts in my chest and spreads through my veins. The abuse I can handle; it's the happiness that cripples.” — Laura Wiess Abuse Copy Share Image
“Rape is not a mistake! He did it on purpose, over and over again because he wanted to, because he off on… — Laura Wiess Failure Copy Share Image
“A victim soul is a pious individual chosen to absorb the pain and suffering of others.” — Laura Wiess Pain and suffering Copy Share Image
“I am shrunken and shriveled inside, a rotten chestnut hidden beneath a deceptively smooth shell” — Laura Wiess Copy Share Image
“How can you make someone love you when they won't? How long are you supposed to keep trying?” — Laura Wiess Love Copy Share Image
“Sometimes the hardest people to love are the ones who need it the most.” — Laura Wiess Copy Share Image
“Hell no. You're what saved you, kid. Not divine intervention.” — Laura Wiess Divine intervention Copy Share Image
“The weight in my pocket nudges my thigh, suddenly becomes my knife. I put my hand to its unforgiving outline and can't… — Laura Wiess Copy Share Image
“See, guys freak out. They hit critical mass and blast nuclear, white-hot anger out over the world like walking flamethrowers. But girls… — Laura Wiess Anger Copy Share Image
“I started wondering about life stories, how each one of us has one that isn't apparent at first glance, what we tell… — Laura Wiess Life Copy Share Image
“They brought along a young man named Andy who wants very much to see you." She steps aside to let him through.… — Laura Wiess Copy Share Image
“How about giving your old man a break here, huh, Chirp?" "Chirp is dead," I hear myself say and watch the flat… — Laura Wiess Copy Share Image
“Physical imperfections have always offended him, but apparently my bad hygiene wasn't repellent enough. Perhaps Ms. Mues's full-blown adulthood will be.” — Laura Wiess Copy Share Image
“She smiles and slips her arm through his. Her tread is light and bouncy and I can almost see the ghost of… — Laura Wiess Cheerleader Copy Share Image
“Yeah, I know I've changed. Nothing gets to me anymore. Well, okay, except for stuff in the past. Back then I was… — Laura Wiess Copy Share Image
“I would not willingly peel back the scar tissue protecting the deepest chambers of my heart and reveal the bruised hollows pooled… — Laura Wiess Old wounds Copy Share Image
“We wait to be rescued, but for whatever reason, no one comes. We figure that if no one protects us then we… — Laura Wiess Dogs Copy Share Image
“If not for you or your daughter, then for Nicky? Couldn't you do it for Nicky?' I stop breathing. My mother pales.… — Laura Wiess Children Copy Share Image
“Maybe it's true that shared trauma brings people closer together-a common hardship, a battle to survive-because when times are quiet people relax… — Laura Wiess Quiet people Copy Share Image
“We mutinied quietly, using every lesson we’d been taught by every person who’d ever used us for their own benefit.” — Laura Wiess Lesson Copy Share Image
“My father’s release date was given to all the local cops, school administrators, and youth group leaders.” — Laura Wiess Father Copy Share Image
“Ignorance of the outcome doesn't exempt you from the consequences.” — Laura Wiess Consequences Copy Share Image
“How can you make someone love you when they won't? And what if that person happens to be your mother?” — Laura Wiess Love Copy Share Image
“The distant threat of eternal damnation pales in comparison to the immediate gratification of corrupting young skin.” — Laura Wiess Damnation Copy Share Image
“That's what innocence is, you know. A blissful oblivion of what's coming, of what you'll lose and what you'll gain, and what… — Laura Wiess Blissful Copy Share Image
“There are worse things in life to be than fat, and one of them is ignorant. Another is prejudiced. Another is deliberately… — Laura Wiess Copy Share Image
“Meredith's a big girl. She knows how babies are made, don't you, Mer?" I nod, numb and weary. "'Course I do. Same… — Laura Wiess Meredith Copy Share Image
“My mother plants her hands on her hips, peevish. “Is that the best welcome you can come up with? Why don’t you… — Laura Wiess Mother Copy Share Image
“He shook his head and gave this laugh, a good laugh, and just looked at me. "You always this happy?" "No," I… — Laura Wiess Copy Share Image
“But when I looked for good, evil came; and when I waited for light, darkness came. My lyre is turned to mourning,… — Laura Wiess Darkness Copy Share Image
“The law says they aren’t allowed to share the info with anyone else, but of course they did—who wouldn’t?—so now we’re marked… — Laura Wiess Internet Copy Share Image
