“Was she the one who had changed, or had he? Or had both of them stayed too much the same in a world that was shifting faster and faster around them? Maybe they were too old to be what they had been. The problem, Ely thought, was that he wasn’t quite sure what they were supposed to be now.” WarChangeFamilyFantasyMemoryTraumaGrief And LossSibling Relationships Book:A Vision in Smoke Source: A Vision in Smoke
“Three years ago!” he yelled, and all of the emotion seemed to hit at once. “You sent me one letter in four years, Dinar! And I defended you! I defended you to all of them – Mother, Father, Tomaas, even the other families in Parejon that came asking. I told them you were well and happy and doing great, important things. Convinced them it was all for the best. But I have no idea why, because you hurt me worst of all.” LoveFamilyFantasyBetrayalGrief And LossSibling Relationships Book:A Vision in Smoke Source: A Vision in Smoke
“Why had it taken finally seeing her again for him to realize just how much it had hurt watching her leave?” FamilyFantasyBetrayalGrief And LossSibling Relationships Book:A Vision in Smoke Source: A Vision in Smoke
“You have always looked at me like I hang the cursed stars in the sky and that was sweet when we were young – but now, Ely, it’s too hard! It is too hard to be perfect for you because when I am wrong you assume that I meant to hurt you – that it was all part of the plan because I am too smart and too good to do something badly.” LoveFamilyFantasyBetrayalGrief And LossSibling Relationships Book:A Vision in Smoke Source: A Vision in Smoke
“The only one you protected was yourself,” he snapped, the words choking out before he could stop them. “Yes,” Dinar hissed back. “I did protect myself.” Something dark and angry flickered in her eyes. “It was about damn time I learned to do that.” LoveFamilyPowerTraumaBetrayalGrief And LossSibling Relationships Book:A Vision in Smoke Source: A Vision in Smoke
“I have always expected too much from you. But I think you also expected too much from me. I thought you could not make mistakes. You thought I would always understand. Would never feel hurt. But, Deen, sometimes people don’t understand unless you make them. Sometimes you have to take the time and explain yourself.” FamilyFantasyForgivenessBetrayalSibling Relationships Book:A Vision in Smoke Source: A Vision in Smoke