LOREN
As Phoebe pressed the cigarette to her skin, Loren's eyes tightened. Though he knew better than to intervene, he found himself instinctively reaching out with his telekinesis, plucking it from her fingers. However, the damage was already done, and he sighed, and gave her hand and shoulder a gentle squeeze.
For a long moment, he was silent in the face of her words. Then, he offered her an incredibly tentative smile. "You know, a very wise god once said the only reason someone wouldn't want you is because of the way you presented yourself. And a very wise lady once told me that self-destructive behaviors don't help anything, that only you can decide who and what makes you happy or unhappy, and that while you might not ever get fully better in part, you might get better, so long as you work at it." He let her go. "Maybe you should listen to that very good advice."
For a long moment, he was silent in the face of her words. Then, he offered her an incredibly tentative smile. "You know, a very wise god once said the only reason someone wouldn't want you is because of the way you presented yourself. And a very wise lady once told me that self-destructive behaviors don't help anything, that only you can decide who and what makes you happy or unhappy, and that while you might not ever get fully better in part, you might get better, so long as you work at it." He let her go. "Maybe you should listen to that very good advice."
look at how a single candle can both
defy and define the darkness
defy and define the darkness
