From American War

β€œIt is said in the South there is no future, only three kinds of past - the distant past of heritage, the near past of experience, and the past-in-waiting.”

β€œI’m sorry, Sarat.”

β€œWhy’d you do it?” she asked me.

β€œI just wanted to know.”

β€œDon’t ever apologize for that,” she said. β€œThat’s all there is to life, is wanting to know.”