Enjoying The Bouquet While Resisting The Wine."

Storytelling Was The Most Honored Of All Talents, For It Benefited Everyone.

Eight Full Lives,” I Whispered Against His Jaw, My Voice Breaking. “eight Full Lives And I Never Found Anyone I Would Stay On A Planet For, Anyone I Would Follow When They Left. I Never Found A Partner. Why Now? Why You? You're Not Of My Species. How Can You Be My Partner?” “it's A Strange Universe,” He Murmured. “it's Not Fair,” I Complained, Echoing Sunny's Words. It Wasn't Fair. How Could I Find This, Find Love–now, In This Eleventh Hour–and Have To Leave It? Was It Fair That My Soul And Body Couldn't Reconcile? Was It Fair That I Had To Love Melanie, Too?

Only You Could Be More Important Than What I Wanted...what I Needed. What I Want And What I Need Is To Be With You, And I Know I'll Never Be Strong Enough To Leave Again.

Saving Her Life Was The One Acceptable Thing I'd Done Since I Met Her. The One Thing That I Was Not Ashamed Of. The One And Only Thing That Made Me Glad I Existed At All. I'd Been Fighting To Keep Her Alive Since The First Moment I'd Caught Her Scent.

Idiot! Lunatic! Moron! Jackass! Selfish Irresponsible Fool!