The note, which had been written on one of the pads I kept around for grocery lists, said, "My lover, I came in too close to dawn to wake you, though I was tempted. Your house is full of strange men. A fairy upstairs and a little child downstairs- but as long as there's not one in my lady's chamber, I can stand it".

My first word for the New Year was 'exsanguinate.' This was probably not a good omen.

I love him," I said, but even to my own ears I didn't sound happy about it.

Look, how come he showed up now? When you have other fairies in the woods? And does that sound crazy when you say it out loud, or what?

A dog – a collie – went up to Eric, looked up at his face, and growled. “Shoo,” Eric said, making an imperious gesture with his hand.

It was one of God's jokes that such a dumb mind had been put in such an eloquent body.

i hate not knowing what i did." _Eric