Expressions like "the good ole days" implied that life used to be of a higher quality than it is now, but I think everything looks better in retrospect.

Whether or not he still wanted me, I knew he wouldn't want anyone else to have me.

—Penelope Douglas in Rival

There was a time when I had all of his attention and loved it. As much as I wanted him to leave me alone, I also liked how he seemed surprised. I liked the way he was looking at me right now. And then I remembered that I hated him.

—Penelope Douglas in Bully

I wanted to make more than just money. I wanted to make a difference and be remembered.

—Penelope Douglas in Misconduct

The more you suffered, the more you survived. It shaped people in different ways, and what broke one person could empower another.

—Penelope Douglas in Falling Away

The most valuable lesson anyone learns in life should be learned as early as possible. That you don't have to live in the reality someone else had invented. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Ever.

—Penelope Douglas in Corrupt

Wisdom is one of the few things that looks bigger the further away it is.

—Terry Pratchett

This is what a total breakdown must be. You find yourself standing somewhere you shouldn't be, doing something so out of character that you wonder if you've become someone else entirely.

—Gilly Macmillan in Burnt Paper Sky

Having this, and losing it, made it even sweeter the second time around.

—R.K. Lilley in Lovely Trigger