Quotes by Sara Gruen

Even as your body betrays you, your mind denies it.

With a secret like that, at some point the secret itself becomes irrelevant. The fact that you kept it does not.

Sometimes when you get older—and Im not talking about you, Im talking generally, because everyone ages differently—things you think on and wish on start to seem real. And then you believe them, and before you know it theyre a part of your history, and if someone challenges you on them and says theyre not true—why, then you get offended.

I stare at her for a long moment. I want to kiss her. I want to kiss her more than Ive ever wanted anything in my life.

After sixty-one years together, she simply clutched my hand and exhaled.

I scan the room. Catherine is writing quickly, her light brown hair falling over her face. She is left-handed, and because she writes in pencil her left arm is silver from wrist to elbow.

Dont mind Russ, he says. Hes a good kid underneath all those holes, although its a wonder he doesnt spring a leak when he drinks

You do right by me, Ill show you a life most suckers cant even dream of.

When will people learn that just because you can make something doesn’t mean you should?

Is where youre from the place youre leaving or where you have roots?

Sometimes when you get older — and I’m not talking about you, I’m talking generally, because everyone ages differently — things you think on and wish on start to seem real. And then you believe them, and before you know it they’re part of your history, and if someone challenges you on them and says they’re not true — why, then you get offended because you can’t remember the first part. All you know is that you’ve been called a liar.

When I first submerged my feet into frigid water, they hurt so badly I yanked them out again. I persisted, dunking them for longer and longer periods, until the cold finally blistered.

The person following is never in control, which she knows full well and which is exactly why she does it.

He only had the imperfect medium of words.

It seems theres nothing so good or pure it cant be taken without a moments notice. And then in the end, it all gets taken anyway.

I want her to melt into me, like butter on toast. I want to absorb her and walk around for the rest of my days with her encased in my skin.I want.

How hard can it be to find a girl and an elephant for Christs sake?

And then I laugh, because its so ridiculous and so gorgeous and its all I an do to not melt into a fit of giggles. So what if Im ninety-three? So what if Im ancient and cranky and my bodys a wreck? If theyre willing to accept me and my guilty conscience, why the hell shouldnt I run away with the circus? Its like Charlie told the cop. For this old man, this IS home.

He stares at me, and then leans back in his chair. Hes ill, Jacob.I say nothing. Hes a paragon schnitzophonic.Hes what?!Paragon schnitzophonic, repeats Uncle Al. You mean paranoid schizophrenic?Sure. Whatever. But the bottom line is hes mad as a hatter...

There is no question that I am the only thing standing between these animals and the business practices of August and Uncle Al, and what my father would do--what my father would want me to do--is look after them, and I am filled with that absolute and unwavering conviction. No matter what I did last night, I cannot leave these animals. I am their shepherd, their protector.