Seeing Something Once Is Better Than Hearing

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

Anyone Who Says That Women Do Not Have Influence In Men's Decisions Makes A Vast And Stupid Mistake.

In That Moment I Understood That The Cruelest Words In The Universe Are If Only.

When I Knew I Couldn't Suffer Another Moment Of Pain, And Tears Fell On My Bloody Bindings, My Mother Spoke Softly Into My Ear, Encouraging Me To Go One More Hour, One More Day, One More Week, Reminding Me Of The Rewards I Would Have If I Carried On A Little Longer. In This Way, She Taught Me How To Endure — Not Just The Physical Trials Of Footbinding And Childbearing But The More Torturous Pain Of The Heart, Mind, And Soul.

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.