She was suddenly almost... «The Golden Fool»
RamingoWS28 марта 2018She was suddenly almost defiant, as if I had belittled her. "He`s handsome and he`s charming, and he could have had his pick of any number of women. He chose me. And in my own way, I do, truly, love him. He makes me feel young and desirable and capable of real passion. "What did I make you feel?" I asked unwillingly, my voice low. I knew I was inviting more pain but I couldn`t stop myself. That puzzled her for a moment. "Comfortable," she said at last, with no thought for my feelings. "Accepted and valued." She smiled suddenly, and her expression cut me. "Generous, giving you what no one else would. And more. Worldy and adventurous. Like a bright songbird come to visit a wren." "You were that," I conceded. I looked away from her, toward the window. "But no more, Starling. Never again. Perhaps you think my life a poor thing, but it is mine. I won`t steal the crumbs from another man`s table. I have that much pride." "You can`t afford that kind of pride," she said bluntly. She pushed her hair back from her face. "Look around you, Fitz. A dozen years on your own, and what do you have? A cottage in the forest, and a handful of chickens. What do you have for brightness or warmths or sweetness? Only me. Perhaps it`s only a day or two of my life, here and there, but I`m the only real person in your life." Her ovice grew harder. "Crumbs from another man`s table are better than starving. You need me."
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