He wrote that I was his favorite girl, I was brilliant, and I was the best daughter anyone could ever hope for. For a long time, that was all I needed. Until, of course, I needed more.
-- Ashley Ford (Chapter 1)

Importance: Ford reminisces about her father's letters to her when she was younger and recalls how positive and loving he sounded in them. However, she here illustrates that her father's love from a distance was not always enough, as his absence began to be felt when she entered adolescence and experienced the challenges that come with growing up.

My mother didn't know I could do bad things and still have the sun.
-- Ashley Ford (Chapter 2)

Importance: The 'sun' Ford speaks of here is the sunrise which her elementary school teacher taught her about and which she always longed to see as a child. Ford would stay up late to see the sunrise and viewed it as a special...