I Was Born For You" -claire Fraser,

There Comes A Turning Point In Intense Physical Struggle Where One Abandons Oneself To A Profligate Usage Of Strength And Bodily Resource, Ignoring The Costs Until The Struggle Is Over. Women Find This Point In Childbirth; Men In Battle.

I Work Late At Night. I'm Awake And Nobody Bothers Me. It's Quiet And Things Come And Talk To Me In The Silence.

Am I A Man? To Want You So Badly That Nothing Else Matters? To See You, And Know I Would Sacrifice Honor Or Family Or Life Itself To Lie Wi' You, Even Though Ye'd Left Me?

He Splayed A Hand Out Over The Photographs, Trembling Fingers Not Quite Touching The Shiny Surface, And Then He Turned And Leaned Toward Me, Slowly, With The Improbable Grace Of A Tall Tree Falling. He Buried His Face In My Shoulder And Went Very Quietly And Thoroughly To Pieces.

Really Love Him, I Mean," Geilie Persisted. "not Just To Bed Him; I Know You Want That, And He Does Too. They All Do. But Do You Love Him?" Did I Love Him? Beyond The Urges Of The Flesh? The Hole Had The Dark Anonymity Of The Confessional, And A Soul On The Verge Of Death Had No Time For Lies. "yes," I Said, And Laid My Head Back On My Knees. It Was Silent In The Hole For Some Time, And I Hovered Once More On The Verge Of Sleep, When I Heard Her Speak Once More, As Though To Herself. "so It's Possible," She Said Thoughtfully.