Bab 166: Breaking Down in Compassion

Anastasia was smart - so smart, and fearless and brave, and it wasn't fair that she should have to be this understanding as well.

"Lemuel..." she called out again, reaching out her hands.

"You deserve to be alright - to be happy, too."

Lemuel is surprised to feel her carding her fingers through the hair at the base of his neck. She then took his face in her hands. When he looked up, he could see in her compassionate, sympathetic gaze that he had already begun crying without him realizing it.

"I lost you..." Lemuel breathed out, a hot tear slipping down his cheek.

"And I kept losing everything else."

He let her see the anger then. It's the kind he'd reserved for her death - the kind he'd held for himself for not being able to move on from her.

"Everyone else did. Not only you. But it will be fine - it will be fine from now on..." Anastasia choked out a sob, her dark eyes large with tears and her pale chin trembling.