Thinking of those possibilities was a deep ache, but Kaiyo wouldn’t be the person he was now if that had been his fate. Maybe he’d be worse. Maybe he’d be better. It didn’t matter, in the end. He just wouldn’t be who he was now. He’d fought for the scars and markings on his skin. For his knowledge and what happiness he had. Of that, he had to be proud, even if Ahmik hadn’t been part of his growth for a long time. Kaiyo closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, he couldn’t be anybody else but himself.
