It was a _NASTY_ thing to say, and Victoria flinched, badly wounded.It was a _NASTY_ thing to say, and Victoria flinched, badly wounded. She broke down completely, crying and sobbing loudly, her head in her hands, not wanting to touch me. I didn't realize that I might feel her pain as well. What was I saying to her? After all, we were living together, and had planned to marry in a church. My conscience, mortal thing that it is, pounded at me relentlessly. I felt awful. I hesitatingly reached, stopped, reached again and touched her gently. I pulled at Victoria, who was still crying, and I hugged her. She struggled a little to get away from me, but not really. Her sobs got louder, then were muffled as she buried her head against my shoulder. I held her tightly, rocking her like a child, cooing apologies for my horrid behavior and ugly words. Victoria responded after a while, her sobs fading. "I cry because I do love you. Is mortal, but I am three-quarters mortal. I am mortal _now_." Her eyes were puffy and red, and she sniffled. |