He seemed to find a little courage and further explained, “I was really reluctant at first, but my wife,” he nodded at the younger woman, “and c...-workers,” he nodded at the older women, “really encouraged me. It turns out that the study is no joke. My health has really improved.” Out of the corner of my vision, I saw Margaret staring at the tent in my swimsuit. There was a long pause, broken by Jeremy’s wife. “We should get out of here and let you enjoy the tub.” They each wrapped themselves in. This would be much more.’ The tip of her tongue snaked out to tease her finger. ‘He knows you’re here and he trusts me to keep you under control. Seldom does he second-guess my means, as I seldom second-guess his.’ The chessboard disappeared and a scrying crystal took its place. It revealed a dungeon, with a young woman seated on the hay. Rebecca was sitting crosslegged, naked, her eyes closed. ‘It seems your husband has made no great progress with her,’ he said blandly. Her finger left her. There is not even one of those large rats everyone around the world hears about. Then she hears a crunch of glass. Yulia spins around, her pistol slipping free of its holster. She drives the gun right into the face of ... a woman?“I had a feeling you was a cop,” the woman says, smacking her gum.“Who are you?” Yulia asks.“The name’s Cindy Cruz,” the woman says, turning her head to spit out the gum.“What are you here for?”Cindy’s mouth curves up into a smirk. “Why for you, honey.”“For me?” Yulia. He knew he still loved Caron, he always would, but now it seemed she'd given him the freedom to move on without hurting or slighting her. He felt her love for him as fresh as the first day, that first day on which they'd known, just completely known, that each loved the other and that they'd be together. But instead of allowing that love to draw him inward, closing him off, he felt Caron encouraging him, 'Take a chance, love. Live again. Love again. I'll always love you, don't worry.'His eyes.