(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

"Please... please enter."
I approach her slowly, hunched over and seeming hesitant to meet her gaze.
I'd pored through enough of the Sensory Stones to learn what guilt feels like
and how to feign it by now. What useful little devices they are.
"Deionarra," I murmur, kneeling at her feet, "Please. I know I am not worthy,
but still I beg of you to forgive me. It was wrong to lash out at you. I was
brash. I am brash."
I rest my forehead on her knee, and with a casual motion dabbed my fingers
beneath my eyes. The fumes from the pepper oil sting, and I begin to tear up.
"I wasn't angry with you, Deionarra. I could never be angry with you. I was
angry with myself, with what I am and what I can't find. I've been frustrated
and hurt for so many years... until I found you."
I sniff, then rub my eyes with my clean hand, "I've changed, Deionarra. I can
change, but only if I'm with you. I will go if you send me away, but please.
Please don't condemn me to return to what I once was. Please tell me that
we can move past this."
And then I feel it... her hand stroking my dreadlocks, fingers tenderly
brushing the woven beads. They click at her passing touch.
"My love," she murmurs, and I can hear her swallowing the tears, "I forgive. I
will always forgive."
Striking her had been a calculated risk, one that I only took when I was
certain she would cling tighter for it. It wasn't a simple test of loyalty... I
knew I already had that from her. No, I needed to see how well she would lie
to herself to maintain that loyalty.
Now I know that she would blame herself rather than me when I dash my
knuckles against her cheek... and she would do so again with worse.
Another string tied. Another bond woven. She'll follow where I lead now,
write off my transgressions as the product of a cruel upbringing, forgive
what insults I bear against her. I force a choked sound, let my voice crack.
The praises of gratitude spill from my lips like jewels, and I swallow hard so
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