“Laila smiled silently, watching her new friend be so inebriated. But there was no longer any joy in that smile, only toilsome forebodings and feelings. The perceptions that she received from the people close to her and the dreams that she lived and remembered, made her transition—sometimes in quite a sudden manner—from moments of great happiness and carefreeness to moments of extreme concentration and concern. Her powers, and her memories, had given her a sort of split personality that, on the one hand, maintained its freshness and its original young age but that, on the other hand, was more reserved and mature…adult, in some way: like that of someone who has already fully lived many lives, experiencing strengths and weaknesses, mistakes and triumphs, and who knows so many things about the past and the future that are better not to talk about, that carry with them oppressive responsibilities and heavy thoughts.”