she didn't need anyone. At Wheeler, even when she stood out with her pink hair and quilter army-surplus jacket and combat bots, she did this without apology. It was a great irony that the very fact of a relationship with her would diminish her appeal, that the moment she came to love me back and depend on me as much as I depended on her, she would no longer be a truly independent spirit. No way in hell was I going to be the one to take that quality away from her.

Summary

This quote reflects the perspective of the narrator, who admires and respects the independence and individuality of the person they are speaking about. The person described is confident and unapologetic in being different, and chooses to stand out even in a setting where they don't need validation from others. The narrator acknowledges the irony that being in a relationship could compromise this person's independence, as they might come to rely on the narrator. However, the narrator values their partner's independent spirit so much that they refuse to be the one to take it away from them.

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