No Promises.

No one is waiting for me. In this story, I’m the girl no one is waiting for.

—Jennifer Egan, A Visit from the Goon Squad

We stand there, quiet. My questions all seem wrong: How did you get so old? Was it all at once, in a day, or did you peter out bit by bit? When did you stop having parties? Did everyone else get old too, or was it just you? Are other people still here, hiding in the palm trees or holding their breath underwater? When did you last swim your laps? Do your bones hurt? Did you know this was coming and hide that you knew, or did it ambush you from behind?

—Jennifer Egan, A Visit from the Goon Squad

I’m always happy,” Sasha said. “Sometimes I just forget.

—Jennifer Egan, A Visit from the Goon Squad