“I feel her tears on my face. They feel the same as mine.”

“In my palm I can feel the echo of her pulse, standing in for the absense of mine.”

“But the absence of tears wasn't the same as an absence of feeling.”

“The rain feels good against my face, Sam. It feels like tears. Let me stay a while longer, I pray you. It has been a long time since last I wept.”

“I tried to breathe, failing. I clutched her to me, tears slipping from under my closed eyes. It was as if her soul was liquid fire and I could feel her aura, swirling about mine. She was taking my aura. But I wanted to give it to her, to cat her in a small part of me and protect her. Her needs made her so fragile. ”

“The shower hadn't washed away the hurt, nor had it disguised the tear stains on my face. But I still felt a little better. As better as any vampire could feel after having her BFF drive a stake through her heart.”