I was thinking, while I was running..." He paused. "About not hitting the trees, I hope.

I didn't want to be the monster! I didn't want to kill this room full of harmless children! I didn't want to lose everything I'd gained in a lifetime of sacrifice and denial!

Dream happy dreams. You are the only one who has ever touched my heart. It will always be yours. Sleep,my only love.

You really should stay away from me.

I bit a pillow. Or two.

There are no rules that can bind you when you find your other half.

And yet, I found I could survive. I was alert, I felt the pain - the aching loss that radiated out from my chest, sending wracking waves of hurt through my limbs and head - but it was manageable. I could live through it. I didn't feel like the pain had weakened over time, rather that I'd grown strong enough to bear it.