What does it mean to regret when you have no choice? It's what you can bear. And there it is... It was death. I chose life. - Michael Cunningham

Venture too far for love, she tells herself, and you renounce citizenship in the country you've made for yourself. You end up just sailing from port to port.

What do you do when you're no longer the hero of your own story?

"Any other vexations to report?" he asks.

"I love the word 'vexations.'"

"It's the 'x.' Nice to jump off a 'v' and bite into an 'x' like that."

"Just the usual ones," she says.

"How was the weekend?"

"Vexing. Not really, I just wanted to say it. You?"