Chapter 55: What I Am

“I’m not perfect,” I whispered. I hadn’t felt the tears coming, but the next thing I knew cool tears slid down my cheeks.

Michael slipped a hand under my hair and around my neck. I wondered what he thought when he touched me. Did he think my skin was too cold? When he looked into my eyes - or worse, when he read my mind - what did he think of the things he saw there? Of the evil I’d Become?

“Desi, I’m not blind to what you are. I know you are the same warrior I knew in Asgard. You look the same, you feel the same.” He brushed his thumb across my cheek to dry my tears, but they kept coming.

“But I’m not the same. I’m not.” He had to understand this. Had to know. I pushed away from him and stood, walking a few paces away, splashing in the puddles. I couldn’t think when I was so near him. “Michael, I’m not the girl you Remember.” I forced myself to look at him. Forced him to look at me. I let my Shadow expand until it towered above me. “This is what I am now.”