Chapter 2, p. 37
I left on a Monday. I'd called Anita a day or two before and told her that my mother was ill, that I had to go to Maine and didn't know when I'd be back. I told Ted I was going to Washington for a few days to see a friend from college who'd ended up there. I got on a bus for Boston with a one-way ticket.

Chapter 2, p. 38
The first lie I told was my name, "Felicia," I said. And then, because this was, I suddenly realized, a seriously ridiculous name, I also said, "As in happy to be here," and dipped my head slightly. "But my friends call me Licia. Or Lish."

Chapter 3, p. 48
I had been in the house for over a month at this point, and I felt transformed and opened out—so altered it seemed nearly chemical to me...