If I Never Met You

Those who said family mattered above all else were wrong. People you love, who love you back, matter above all. Crap people you happen to be related to: you need to stop thinking you owe them a limitless number of chances to hurt you.

debate that usually ended with Laurie pointing out she hadn’t asked to be born, and thinking her dad would probably agree he hadn’t either

‘To tell you that …’ Jamie paused. ‘I don’t want to pretend anymore. I want to be together. Somewhere along the line this stopped being a pretence for me.’

If you’re a mistake you’re the greatest one ever made. I’m really proud to know you.

Those who said family mattered above all else were wrong. People you love, who love you back, matter above all. Crap people you happen to be related to: you need to stop thinking you owe them a limitless number of chances to hurt you.

Jamie looked slightly baffled. ‘My dad always says if you can help someone, you should help someone.’

‘One of the things those sessions taught me is, you need to speak up, ask for help. If you don’t tell people why you’re suffering, or even that you’re suffering, they can’t help you.’

There was a really nice woman called Maya who ran a local vegan café who was a single mother, and very large, and Claire had made disparaging remarks about I know I shouldn’t say this, but what can she eat that puts weight on?!

‘You are a loyal person. When someone has your loyalty, it’s for life.’

Involvement with a man in our patriarchal society is like expecting homeopathic medicine to cure you. You’re not going to get better by taking a tiny dose of the thing that made you sick in the first place.