She knocked and waited, because when the door was opened from within, it had the potential to lead someplace quite different.

My face responds without authorization from my brain, so the resulting smile feels like the biggest, most unguarded, goofiest smile I’ve ever unleashed in my entire life. I didn’t even know my face could do this. It’s like there were hidden zippers in my cheeks. Jesus. This must be what feelings are. This is why people write poems! I get it now. I get it, and I want more.

Thank you, but we respectfully decline your overture, being more enjoyably occupied at present.

Brimstone once told me that to stay true in the face of evil is a feat of strength.

You could look out the window today, see the sky raining fire, and say that it has all been for nothing, everything we've ever done, because now we've lost. But folk were born and lived and knew friendship and music in this city, ugly as it is, and all across this land that we fought for. Some grew old, and others were less lucky. Many bore children and raised them, and had the pleasure of making them, too, and we gave them that for as long as we could. Who has ever done more, my friend?

A wave of weariness took him. How could life be so unrelentingly ugly?

There are other ways of showing someone you love them, such as fetching them out of Hell.