Of course you did. You really do like to tease me.

[It feels as easy as anything when she leans against him. It feels as hard as anything, still, to embrace her. Old dogs can learn new tricks, but they don't forget old ones.]

[Regardless, he does, hand moving into her hair gently.]

Read it? Very well.

[He doesn't need to do so, with a good memory. He leans down to murmur, for her ears alone.]

I will be gone from here and sing my songs.
...In the forest wilderness where the wild beasts are,
And carve in letters on the little trees,
The story of my love. And as the trees
Will grow, letters too will grow, to cry.
...In a louder voice the story of my love.