" I gazed up as if I hadn't heard, but what I was thinking was, tell
me more about the pretty girls. I was embarrassed for wanting it, it
was base, what did pretty matter? I had thought that so many times
with my mother. A person didn't need to be beautiful, they just
needed to be loved. But I couldn't help wanting it. If that was the
way I could be loved, to be beautiful, I'd take it. "

― Janet Fitch , White Oleander