Love mends even the broken parts
Making sure Astra was safely removed from his lap and placed on the ground, Loren let Maea pull him to his feet. As she spoke, he felt his eyes welling with tears. Laughing a little stupidly at her comment about the Labyrinth, he wiped his cheeks with his free hand.
”Of course I saved you.” There’d been no doubt in his mind back then and there was none in his voice now. Squeezing her hand, he smiled, though he was still crying. ”I...that’s what I like to think of myself, too. On my better days.” He bit his lip, more than a bit embarrassed to have admitted that.
When she asked what he thought of her, he took a deep breath, then studied her features. ”I see a woman who wants to choose her own path. And if there’s none in front of her, she’ll forge her own.” He paused, expression thoughtful.
”I see someone who isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in, or tell others when they’re wrong, or fight for what, or who, she wants. Who never lets the many obstacles life seems determined to put in her way slow her down. Who is kind and caring, but has little tolerance for stupidity. Who might get a little envious, and might be a little prideful, and who has a bit of a temper, but always tries to make up for it as best she can. Who never lets her fear stop her.”
Smiling outright now, he reached out to take her other hand. ”I see my friend.”
”Of course I saved you.” There’d been no doubt in his mind back then and there was none in his voice now. Squeezing her hand, he smiled, though he was still crying. ”I...that’s what I like to think of myself, too. On my better days.” He bit his lip, more than a bit embarrassed to have admitted that.
When she asked what he thought of her, he took a deep breath, then studied her features. ”I see a woman who wants to choose her own path. And if there’s none in front of her, she’ll forge her own.” He paused, expression thoughtful.
”I see someone who isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in, or tell others when they’re wrong, or fight for what, or who, she wants. Who never lets the many obstacles life seems determined to put in her way slow her down. Who is kind and caring, but has little tolerance for stupidity. Who might get a little envious, and might be a little prideful, and who has a bit of a temper, but always tries to make up for it as best she can. Who never lets her fear stop her.”
Smiling outright now, he reached out to take her other hand. ”I see my friend.”
loren
