I tensed, waiting for the fury - both his and mine - but it was only quiet and calm in the darkness of his room. I could almost taste the sweetness of reunion in the air, a separate fragrance from the perfume of his breath; the emptiness when we were apart left its own bitter aftertaste, something I didn't consciously notice until it was removed. There was no friction in the space between us. The stillness was peaceful - not like the calm before the tempest, but like a clear night untouched by even the dream of a storm.

I hear voices in my mind and you're worried that you're the freak,” he laughed.

You think I should be as forgiving as you are? We can’t all be saints and martyrs.

You're my life now and I will do anything to protect you.

If this is how you’re going to react, I’ll freak out more often.

You've got a bit of a temper, don't you?

Listen up, Wanda. I know exactly what you don't want to be. But we're human, and we're selfish, and we don't always do the right thing. We aren't going to let you go. Deal with it.