The memories seem like snapshots from someone else’s life. Lauren Oliver More Quotes by Lauren Oliver More Quotes From Lauren Oliver I said, I prefer the ocean when it's gray. Or not really gray. A pale, in-between color. It reminds me of waiting for something good to happen. Lauren Oliver color ocean waiting But you can build a future out of anything. A scrap, a flicker. The desire to go forward, slowly, one foot at a time. You can build an airy city out of ruins. Lauren Oliver cities feet desire ...and once at Hana's house, when we stole some blackberry liqueur from her parents' liquor cabinet and drank until the ceiling started spinning overhead. Hana was laughing and giggling, but I didn't like it, didn't like the sweet sick taste in my mouth or the way my thoughts seemed to break apart like a mist in the sun. Lauren Oliver sick sweet laughing I'd rather die on my own terms than live on theirs. I'd rather die loving Alex than live without him. Lauren Oliver delirium alex term So many things become beautiful when you really look. Lauren Oliver before-i-fall beautiful looks My heart is drumming in my chest so hard it aches, but it's the good kind of ache, like the feeling you get on the first real day of autumn, when the air is crisp and the leaves are all flaring at the edges and the wind smells just vaguely of smoke - like the end and the beginning of something all at once. Lauren Oliver autumn real heart Love: a single word, a wispy thing, a word no bigger or longer than an edge. That's what it is: an edge; a razor. It draws up through the center of your life, cutting everything in two. Before and after. The rest of the world falls away on either side. Lauren Oliver inspirational love fall Someday she will be saved, and the past and all its pain will be rendered as smoothly palatable as the food we spoon to our babies. Lauren Oliver pain baby past That is what hatred is. It will feed you and at the same time turn you to rot. It is hard and deep and angular, a system of blockades. It is everything and total. Hatred is a high tower. In the Wilds, I start to build, and to climb. Lauren Oliver turns towers hatred The secret is,” I say, whispering right into his ear, “that yours was the best kiss I’ve ever had in my life.” “But I’ve never kissed you,” he whispers back. Around us the rain sounds like falling glass. “Not since third grade, anyway.” I smile, but I’m not sure if he can see it. “Better get started, then,” I say, “because I don’t have much time. Lauren Oliver kissing rain fall Most people don't want to be saved. Besides, if you keep bailing everybody out, they'll never learn to paddle on their own. Lauren Oliver saved want people For a second I feel a rush of sadness: for the horizons that vanish behind us, for the people we leave behind, the tiny-doll selves that get stored away and ultimately buried. Lauren Oliver sadness self people Anger is useful only to a certain point. After that, it becomes rage, and rage will make you careless. Lauren Oliver careless certain rage Things change after you die, though, I guess because dying is the loneliest thing you can do. Lauren Oliver things-change dying can-do Perfection is a promise, and a reassurance that we are not wrong. Lauren Oliver reassurance perfection promise We wanted the freedom to love. We wanted the freedom to choose. Now we have to fight for it. Lauren Oliver fighting-for-love fighting wanted The first time I saw you, at the Governor, I handn't been to watch the birds at the border in years. But that's what you reminded me of. You were jumping up, and you were yelling something, and your hair was coming loose from your ponytail, and you were so fast..." He shakes his head. "Just a flash, and then you were gone, Exactly like a bird. Lauren Oliver yelling jumping hair And you can't love, not fully, unless you are loved in return. Lauren Oliver requiem return But from the beginning, I knew that in a world where destiny was dead, I was destined, forever, to love him. Even though he didn't - though he couldn't - ever love me back. Lauren Oliver destiny forever world Every choice is limited. That's life. Lauren Oliver choices