Exes & Ohs

The great divide.

Odette turns to Ethan. "I feel like now that you've seen Anthony you'll think less of me." She says.

"It makes me love you more that you could love someone so unattractive even though they hurt you." He answers.

" I thought Anthony was beautiful and I loved him but I also saw how disgusting he was, physically and as a person. He repulsed me too."

"Feelings are complicated."

"I feel like you don't want me anymore." Odette confesses. She doesn't really understand the feeling. It's more of a fear really.

"Impossible" he says. She wants to argue, even parts her lips to do so but before she can get a word out Ethan kisses her gently. Then from memory he begins to recite

"I have read this book in your garden; - my love, you were absent,or else I could not have read it. It is a favorite book of yours,and the writer was a friend of mine. You will not understand these English words,and others will not understand them,- which is the reason I have not scrawled them in Italian. But you will recognize the handwriting of him who passionately loves you,and you will divine that,over a book which was yours,he could only think of love. In that word,beautiful in all languages,but most so in yours - Amor mio - is comprised my existence here and hereafter. I feel I exist here,and I fear that I shall exist hereafter,- as to what purpose you will decide; my destiny rests with you,and you are a woman,seventeen years of age,and two out of a convent. I wish that you had stayed there,with all my heart,- or,at least,that I had never met you in your married state. But all this is too late. I love you,and you love me, - at least,you say so,and act as if you did so,which last is a great consolation in all events. But I more than love you,and cannot cease to love you. Think of me,sometimes,when the Alps and the ocean divide us,- but they never will,unless you wish it. "

It's her favorite Lord Byron letter. The one she was reading when they met. The one she reads all the time. It doesn't really fit because they are siting on the couch right next to one other but then again it does because lately they have been seperated by so many things. Being seperated by invisible barriers and memories of monsters while in such a close proximity seems worse than a distance of miles and kilometers.

"I don't wish it." she says, "not ever."