The Wrath and the Dawn

It was because I swore I would never say it, and a man is nothing if he can’t keep his promises.

So I write it to the sky—

I love you, a thousand times over. And I will never apologize for it.

“Love is—a shade of what I feel.”

In my life, the one thing I have learned above all is that no individual can reach the height of their potential without the love of others. We are not meant to be alone, Shahrzad. The more a person pushes others away, the clearer it becomes he is in need of love the most.

“And I would argue the prettiest flowers are the ones that seem a little imperfect.”

Something is rare and desirable when it is made to seem so.

“You can’t foresee the future. And there’s nothing you can do about the past.”

“You’re wrong. I can learn from it . . .”

Love is a force unto itself, sayyidi. For love, people consider the unthinkable . . . and often achieve the impossible. I would not sneer at its power.

. “You must love her a great deal, Khalid-jan.”

After a beat, Khalid lowered his sword, his brow marred by pain and consternation. “Love is—a shade of what I feel.”

“You must love her a great deal, Khalid-jan.”

After a beat, Khalid lowered his sword, his brow marred by pain and consternation. “Love is—a shade of what I feel.”

“How right you are. You are not mine.” He dropped his palm from the door. “I am yours.”