I had new thoughts, willful thoughts, or rather thoughts filled with lots of won’ts. I won’t let her change me, I promised myself. I won’t be what I’m not.

More from The Joy Luck Club (1989)

• I began to look at all events and all things as relevant, an opportunity to take or avoid.
• I discovered that maybe it was fate all along, that faith was just an illusion that somehow you’re in control.
• I remember wondering why it was that eating something good could make me feel so terrible, while vomiting something terrible could make me feel so good.
• It is because I had so much joy that I came to have so much hate.
• I was no longer scared. I could see what was inside me.
• Look at this face. Do you see my foolish hope?