“I understand Crawford paid you a visit?""Yes.""And was he attentive?""Yes, very.""And has your heart changed towards him?""Yes. Several times. I have - I find that I - I find that-""Shh. Surely you and I are beyond speaking when words are clearly not enough.... I missed you.""And I you.”

“The note in the quill was intended for the girl, and it read, 'Yes and yes and yes.' Yes I love you, yes I miss you, and yes I know and remember that you do, too. For in her last missive she had written 'No and no.' That is to say, No I do not want anyone other than you, and no I do not manage to sleep at night.”

“Will you marry me?”I was in shock for a full ten seconds before I realized what was happening. I threw my arms around him and kissed him as hard as I could. “Is that a yes?” he asked, when I pulled away.“Yes! Yes, yes, yes!” I shrieked.His face broke into a wide smile. “Thank God,” he said then.”

“You…you need to move on,” I managed. Yes, that was a sound reason. “You need to find someone else. You know I don’t—that I can’t. Well, you know. You’re wasting your time with me.”He remained firm. “It’s my time to waste.”

“Will pushed his hands through his damp hair. “Oh, yes,” he said bitterly. “Perhaps in some other life, beyond this one, when we have passed beyond the river, or turned upon the Wheel, or whatever kind words you want to use to describe leaving this world, I shall find my friend again, my parabatai. But I have lost you now—now, when I need you more than I ever did!”

“As long as you live under my roof, you'll do what I say!" he shouted.Then I'll find another roof, I thought."You understand me?" he said."Yes sir, I understand" I said, and I did too. I understand that a new rooftop would do wonders for me.”