Obey, Obey, Obey, Then Do What You

It's Funny How In That Moment I See Things Clearly. Am I Beaten Down? Yes. Have I Allowed Myself To Become A Victim? Somewhat. Am I Afraid? Always. Does Some Part Of Me Still Long To Fly Away From This Place? Absolutely. But I Can't Leave. Sam And I Have Built A Life For Joy. It Isn't Perfect, But It's A Life. My Family's Happiness Means More To Me That Starting Over Again. Page 210

I’ve Never Thought Much About Whether I Was Happy Or If I Had Fun As A Child. I Was A So-so Girl Who Lived With A So-so Family In A So-so Village. I Didn’t Know That There Might Be Another Way To Live, And I Didn’t Worry About It Either.

People Come In And Out Of Our Lives, And The True Test Of Friendship Is Whether You Can Pick Back Up Right Where You Left Off The Last Time You Saw Each Other.

Sisters, As You Know, Also Have A Unique Relationship. This Is The Person Who Has Known You Your Entire Life, Who Should Love You And Stand By You No Matter What, And Yet It's Your Sister Who Knows Exactly Where To Drive The Knife To Hurt You The Most.

Mama Used To Tell Us A Story About A Cicada Sitting High In A Tree. It Chirps And Drinks In Dew, Oblivious To The Praying Mantis Behind It. The Mantis Arches Up Its Front Leg To Stab The Cicada, But It Doesn't Know An Oriole Perches Behind It. The Bird Stretches Out Its Neck To Snap Up The Mantis For A Midday Meal, But Its Unaware Of The Boy Who's Come Into The Garden With A Net. Three Creatures—the Cicada, The Mantis And The Oriole—all Coveted Gains Without Being Aware Of The Greater And Inescapable Danger That Was Coming.