She didn't think, was simply awake, alone.
-- Narrator (Andado: A Gothic Romance)

Importance: In "Andado: A Gothic Romance," after Don Andrés has sex with Laura, she lies awake feeling confused and alone. Throughout her stay at Don Andrés's estate, Laura has felt bewildered by Don Andrés's sexual advances. She knows little about sex, romance, love, and even her own body. Though she has wanted to be close to Don Andrés, their sexual encounter only succeeds in amplifying her isolation. The moment contributes to the author's thematic explorations regarding loneliness.

There are things people just don't talk about.
-- Narrator (Dust to Dust)

Importance: In "Dust to Dust," the first person narrator describes her best friend Johnny's brother's funeral. After Michael is killed in a tragic motorcycle racing accident, the narrator attends his funeral. In this moment, she confesses how wonderful she believed the event was. The line speaks to the author's explorations regarding the intersection of joy and...