“You’ve been a wonderful addition to my family and I’m so glad I met you here. I know I can always come to you for fun times or in times of need and I love you with both my hearts.”

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 Koschei, a glutton for attention, now scratches the nape of his neck and smiles in hapless disbelief at Ophelia’s tender admission. 

       “I love you too, Button.”  

The nickname’s born effortlessly, a reference to her tiny nose and doll face.  

      “Did you know there’s a heroine in Shakespeare with your name?” 

“You brought light into my life. You chased away all the darkness. I loved you and I will never forget the distance between what I was and what I am. I owe more to you than I could ever say. How you see the man behind the monster I will never know.”

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      “ … . That’s all I ever wanted to hear from you and yet I’m … I’m sometimes uncertain where to go from here.  Hating you and finding ways to render your life’s mission moot … was … . my default setting for centuries.”

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     “How do I see the man behind the monster?  How do you?”  

“You might think I hate you, but I love you a lot.”

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        “Then take my hand, and stay.”  

It’s one of two people, both halves of himself.  One who left him behind, one who stabbed him with a concealed blade, to also leave him behind.  He bets on the former, but either he would welcome in forgiveness, as a balm to this unceasing gloom called “survival;” this lonely honor code called “self-sufficiency.”