Anastasia

by Sophie Lark

“What do you write?” “Poetry, mostly.” “I’d love to hear some.” Now her smile was both warm and approving. “I’m glad you know that poetry ought to be heard, not read.”

“Anything lovely by daylight is even better by night.”

“Whatever else is taken from you, never lose hope. Even if you see how dark the world can be, choose to believe it could be better.”

It was as expected of the males of royal houses to sow their oats prior to marriage as it was of the females to stay pure and virginal. Since it takes two to hoe a row, I wasn’t sure how that was supposed to work.

“Every mark on you is something you survived to get back to me. You have never looked more beautiful.”