Quotes from Cammie McGovern

Freakishness could happen to anyone at any time.

I have learned that some people who look fine are more crippled than I am, by fears they can't explain. Other people are held back by shyness, or anger. In making friends, I see the way some people handicap themselves. I believe there are choices each of us make every single day. We can dwell on our limitations or we can push ourselves past them.

He stood in front of her and told her he'd come, not to climb her tower but to shelter it. In his clumsy way, he was like a prince who arrived with sweaty armpits and bad hair. At least I'm here, he might have said. That's better than nothing. And it was.

JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO SCARED TO TAKE ANY RISKS DOESN'T MEAN THE REST OF US SHOULD BE.

Her idea had a beautiful simplicity at first.

You don't have to date me, just don't date her. Please, as your friend, I'm begging you not to date someone who doesn't appreciate you.

What's a strapless bra?" he finally asked. "LIKE A TOURNIQUET FOR YOUR CHEST." "Can you breathe if you're wearing it?" "BARELY

There isn't any one big test or way to validate ourselves in the world. There's just a long, quiet process of finding our place in it

According to Sarah, who had gone two years ago, prom was famous for being an overpriced disappointment where most people had no fun.

Oh God, this is my fantasy! Where those just-friend boys suddenly realize they love me.' 'I don't know if this was like that .' 'What happened?' He thought for a moment. 'Well. I realized I loved her.' Hannah gasped. 'Oh God, that's so sweet.

It was electrifying the way he watched her so carefully that he forgot himself.

It surprised me because she put it as well (or better) than I could have and made a simple point she didn't even intend: being disabled wasn't the main thing about her.

Don't worry. Here's the thing I've learned about pregnancy. Everything feels like a crisis and everything turns out to be heartburn.

Scratch a female inmate, I've discovered, and you'll usually find a girl whose mother had terrible taste in men.

YOUR FEAR MAY SEEM REAL BUT THE DANGER IS NOT. YOU'RE SAFE. YOU'RE ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE HAVING A PANIC ATTACK.

It was about acceptance, he thought. About realizing no one is perfect and no one can expect to change someone else. Which

He had no idea how wonderful he was. How his hands were so beautiful she could hardly look at them. How his truest smile was crooked and lifted higher on the left side than the right, which made her feel like he might understand her better, her hemiplegic face that was all crooked half smiles, too. But it couldn't be denied. He was also slightly crazy. Maybe more than slightly.

It used to be she didn't get dressed a lot of days. Now she comes out of her room most mornings dressed like she's ready to go. She still doesn't go anywhere, but the important part is, she could.

I've decided that it's possible to love someone for entirely selfless reasons, for all of their flaws and weaknesses, and still not succeed in having them love you back.