Bound By The Moons

front of the mirror, staring

emic layers that screamed "I own more books than shoes." And yet... I didn't feel the same

my pulse point. Still

had done som

to me, and I'd just been too young-t

laptop bag, and headed out. If I stayed cooped

arching stained-glass windows, and oak trees older than the state itself. I had taught in more

building, a warm burst of fam

tt!" a voi

ekbones, red-framed glasses, and the energy of a woman who had long

rning,"

g my hand warmly. "I hear your sabbatical research

tural myths intersect across geography-esp

hit me-Lucien's eyes under moonlight, the silence of th

ed archival access or assistance from the history department, let me kn

ws rose.

aled envelope. "Your sabbatical grant

mach d

.." I murmured, my

ed it to the university-

smile, but inside

And more importantly,

e in the library and

y ivory paper, written in L

r

was power. Consider this

red. My hands trembled slightly as I folded

every

me, Lucien was embedding himself int

. I didn'

at I didn'

h the nearby arboretum. The path wound through tall hedges and ancient t

alone f

ri

d around me like

n lamppost, hands in his coat pockets, as if h

rprised," I sai

toward me with slow, measured steps.

y are yo

ou an exp

for walking away from me last

tensed

light danced across his face, illumi

decision to come back," he said. "But I needed to make sure

asked, voic

ll of restrained anguish. "Beca

ehind his words. The way he said

," I whispered, "but

't. No

rd. "Then how

th. "Because your h

rds-like a lock opening to a room I d

low and raw. "I just need time. Let me prot

l him I needed clarity or distance.

you stop disappearing into the s

mile tugged at

y in bed, my though

hiding something.

. I could feel that much. He was doing

rational corner of myself,

that-I wanted

world I thought I understood was

shattered, there wou