The night surrounds, breathes across her skin. They’re lost in the shadows of the moon.

He holds her with the strength of a million-man army, but with all the tenderness of her heart lying naked in the palms of his hands.

I'm already under the covers when he comes in. I watch as he takes off his shirt and jeans, and climbs into bed beside me. On any other occasion, the sight and feel of his near naked body would send my blood pressure into orbit, but I'm so exhausted by the events of today that I'm incapable of feeling anything even close to desire. And he doesn't ask anything of me.

The Suitors Ball is fast approaching and it's a nasty reminder that my suitor will be chosen shortly. I feel sorry for the poor unfortunate guy, whichever one of them it happens to be.

The most important thing you can ever know, is that whatever your purpose is, that's not your only choice.

It's taken me all this time, all this loss, to realize what really matters is now.