Quotes From "Ignite Me" By Tahereh Mafi

His hands are holding my cheeks, and he pulls back just to look me in the eye and his chest is heaving and he says, "I think, " he says, "my heart is going to explode, " and I wish, more than ever, that I knew how to capture moments like these and revisit them forever. Because this. This is everything. Tahereh Mafi

I feel like I’ve been split open and stuffed with sunshine. Tahereh Mafi

Please, " he says. "I'm begging you to stop." I still. "I can't stomach your pain, " he says. "I can feel it so strongly and it's making me crazy- please, " he says to me. "Don't be sad. Or hurt. Or guilty. You've done nothing wrong." "I'm sorry-"" Don't be sorry, either, " he says. "God, the only reason I'm not going to kill Kent for this is because I know it would only upset you more. Tahereh Mafi

Kenji snorts.“ That’s because you’re not fragile, ” Kenji says. “If anything, everyone needs to protect themselves from you. You’re like a freaking beast, ” he says. Then adds, “I mean, you know–like, a cute beast. A little beast that tears shit up and breaks the earth and sucks the life out of people. Tahereh Mafi

Kenji has a hand pressed to his mouth, desperately trying to suppress a smile. He’s shaking his head, holding up a hand in apology. And then he breaks, laughing out loud, snorting as he tries to muffle the sound. “I’m sorry, ” he says, pressing his lips together, shaking his head again. “This is not a funny moment. It’s not. I’m not laughing Tahereh Mafi

I’m not an idiot, Kenji. I have reasons for the things I say.”“ Yeah, and maybe I’m just saying that you have no idea what you’re saying.”“ Whatever.”“ Don’t whatever me–”“ Whatever, ” I say again.“ Oh my God, ” Kenji says to no one in particular. “I think this girl wants to get her ass kicked.”“ You couldn’t kick my ass if I had ten of them.” Kenji laughs out loud. “Is that a challenge?”" It’s a warning, ” I say to him.“ Ohhhhhh, so you’re threatening me now? Little crybaby knows how to make threats now?”“ Shut up, Kenji.”“Shut up, Kenji, ” he repeats in a whiny voice, mocking me. . Tahereh Mafi

I’m not sure. But there’s something about the darkness, the stillness of this hour, I think, that creates a language of its own. There’s a strange kind of freedom in the dark; a terrifying vulnerability we allow ourselves at exactly the wrong moment, tricked by the darkness into thinking it will keep our secrets. We forget that the blackness is not a blanket; we forget that the sun will soon rise. But in the moment, at least, we feel brave enough to say things we’d never say in the light. Tahereh Mafi

So that's it?" Kenji says. "You just like him for his personality, huh?"" What?"" All of this, " Kenji says, waving a hand in the air, "has nothing to do with him being all sexy and shit and him being able to touch you all the time?"" You think Warner is sexy?"" That is not what I said. Tahereh Mafi

Are you out of your goddamn mind? You think we can take on two hundred soldiers? I know I am an extremely attractive man, J, but I am not Bruce Lee.”“Who’s Bruce Lee?”“Who’s Bruce Lee?” Kenji asks, horrified. “Oh my God. We can’t even be friends anymore.”“ Why? Was he a friend of yours?”“ You know what, ” he says, “just stop. Just–I can’t even talk to you right now. . Tahereh Mafi

Kengi?""Yeah?"I take a deep breath. Try to count the stars. "What am I going to do?"" About what?" I hesitate. "About everything." Kenji makes a strange sound. "Shit if I know."" I don't want to do this without you, " I whisper. He leans back. "Who said you're going to do anything without me?" My heart skips a few beats. I stare at him." What?" he asks. Raises his eyebrows. "You're surprised?"" You'll fight with me?" I ask him, hardly breathing. "Fight back with me? Even if it's with Warner?"Kenji smiles. Looks up at the sky. "Hell yeah, " he says. "Really?""I'm here for you, kid. That's what friends are for. Tahereh Mafi

I want you to be happy, " I tell him, my eyes searching his. 'I want you to have a family. I want you to be surronded by people who care about you, " I say. 'You deserve that. Tahereh Mafi

I lived in a really dark place. I wasn't safe in my own mind. I woke up every morning hoping to die and then spent the rest of the day wondering if maybe I was already dead because I couldn't even tell the difference. Tahereh Mafi

You will not be alone, I say to them, spinning to see their faces. You don't need to be afraid anymore. We want to take back our world. We want to save the lives of our family members, our friends. We want your children to have a chance at a better future. And we want to fight. We want to win. I lock eyes with them. And we are asking for your help. Tahereh Mafi

I do know that I don't want to wake him. We were up very late last night. Tahereh Mafi

I want you to make a list of all of your favorite things, and I want to be on it. Tahereh Mafi

Warner. A white bird with streaks of gold like a crown atop its head. A fair - skinned boy with gold hair, the leader of Sector 45. It was always him. All along . The link. Tahereh Mafi

Hang tight Hold on Look up Stay strong Hang on Hold tight Look strong Stay up One day I might break One day I mightb r e a kfree Tahereh Mafi

I can do anything I want. Be with anyone I want. And it'll be my choice. Tahereh Mafi

For so many years I lived in constant terror of myself. Doubt had married my fear and moved into my mind, where it built castles and ruled kingdoms and reigned over me, bowing my will to its whispers until I was little more than an acquiescing peon, too terrified to disobey, too terrified to disagree. I had been shackled, a prisoner in my own mind. But finally, finally, I have learned to break free. . Tahereh Mafi

I clench my fists and try not to scream and I tuck my friends in my hea Tahereh Mafi

Juliette ? ” A tentative voice . “ Are you okay? ” I lower the pillow . Blink up . Warner is wearing a towel . A towel . I want to roll under the bed . Tahereh Mafi

He's looking at the wall and at the floor and at the bedsheets and at the way his knuckles look when he clenches his fist but no not at me he won't look at me and his next words are so, so soft. "Because they're dead, love. They're all dead. Tahereh Mafi

Tell me what you want" he [Warner] says desperately. "Tell me what to do, " he says, "and I'll do it. Tahereh Mafi

I keep sniffing my skin, pleasantly surprised by how nice it is to smell like a flower. I've never smelled like anything before. Tahereh Mafi

I love you." He breaks. His voice. His back. His knees. His face. He breaks. He has to hold on to the side of his desk. He can't meet my eyes. "I love you, " he says, his words harsh and soft all at once. "I love you and it isn't enough. I thought it would be enough and I was wrong. I thought I could fight for you and I was wrong. Because I can't. I can't even face you anymore-- Tahereh Mafi

I remember it so well. Dying. It was the most painful thing I've ever experienced. I couldn't scream because my lungs were torn apart or full of blood. I don't know. I just had to lie there, trying to breathe, hoping to drop dead as quickly as possible. And the whole time, the whole time I kept thinking about how I'd spent my entire life being a coward, and how it got me nowhere. And I knew that if I had the chance to do it all again, I'd do it differently. I promised myself I'd finally stop being afraid. Tahereh Mafi