Quotessence
Home / Authors / Marieke Nijkamp Books

Marieke Nijkamp Books

Author

Related Quotes

“Trouble is, that's exactly what scares me. I don't feel safe with many people. I have literally never asked someone out on a date before. I don't have a clue how to go about it. I never did crushes before. I didn't feel comfortable enough in my own skin. I didn't know how much of a hang-up gender would be for other people—or disability, for that matter. If you're constantly told people like you don't have meaningful relationships, you eventually believe it.”

TrustGenderDisabilityTrans
Book:Even If We Break
Create image

“Trouble is, that's exactly what scares me. I don't feel safe with many people. I have literally never asked someone out on a date before. I don't have a clue how to go about it. I never did crushes before. I didn't feel comfortable enough in my own skin. I didn't know how much of a hang-up gender would be for other people—or disability, for that matter. If you're constantly told people like you don't have meaningful relationships, it's hard to believe you're allowed to try.”

TrustGenderDisabilityTrans
Book:Even If We Break
Create image

“But I live here, in this place. And I don’t know how to tell you that. I don’t want you to squirm, or take my hand and say it’s tragic. I don’t want you to roll your eyes as though I’m playing a macho game of one-upmanship: My pain can beat up everyone else’s adolescent pain, so I’ll just be over here in the corner, savoring the depths of my stoic suffering and shedding no more than a single tear when I listen to every single cover of “Hurt” and “Hallelujah” on repeat. No, you can’t help me. Don’t try to help me. Please try to help me.”

PainSufferingHealthMental HealthDisabilityHelpDisabledUnbroken
Book:Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens
Create image

“Before the accident—BTA—I didn't know anger and pain could feel the same. I didn't think physical pain and emotional pain could simply be extensions of each other. Now, I could hardly separate the two. And I wanted to crash my fist into a kitchen cabinet or my knee into a chair. Find a more harmful way to stim. Either make the pain worse or make it go away.”

PainEmotionsAngerAutismSelf HarmChronic PainStimming
Book:Even If We Break
Create image

“I half shrug and keep my voice level. "This is how we gain experience, both in this game and in life. We win some battles. We lose others. We learn and we keep moving." "I hate that life has gotten so complicated." I smile. "I'm not sure it was ever uncomplicated." Maddy shrugs. "I don't know. It was, at least, less complicated. It feels like everything is falling to pieces. And I don't know who I am without this game. I don't know where I can find other safe places that let me be myself.”

LifeGrowing Up
Book:Even If We Break
Create image

“In a way, it didn't. They didn't start the fight. I did. That's the part only my therapist knows. I didn't mind that they spat at me and shoved into me as I walked across the football field on my way home. I'd learned to ignore that. I snapped and started the fight because they said something awful about Ever. Irrational gallantry, maybe? I never asked for this type of masculinity, but there it was.”

BullyingMasculinityTransTransmasc
Book:Even If We Break
Create image