“Ren, thank you for helping me back on the road. They would have had their way with me, and then they would have killed me.” I blinked away tears ...rom my eyes.“I am exceedingly glad I was there,” Ren replied. “What will you do after your time as a sword maiden has ended?”“My parents will find me a mate, and I will raise a family,” I said in a low voice.“This is not what you want?”I shook my head and lowered my eyes. “No.”“Then, what do you want?”I looked up at him. “I want to be able to choose. My wife, passed away 5 years ago. — ‘I still can’t believe you’re here.’ She said late one night. I had only moved down a few weeks before. ‘Yeah, well, I can’t believe I’m here either.’ I said quietly, folding my arms behind my head. Truthfully, it was an agonizing decision. To leave my life, and move away from my friends, had been difficult. She knew how hard it was, but we both knew that her career was taking off in the city, and my writing could be done anywhere. ‘I better be your. "She said instantly, "I'm going with you. You can't be out there alone."That started my tears again. I was finally able to get dressed with my hair back as I glared at my puffy face. Shit. I felt better when Alyssa came out in her new outfit ready to go. She looked fresh and pretty with her hair back. When she hugged me, I felt more comfortable. She said, "Let's go. We can't finish until we start."I actually laughed. "Where did you get that wisdom?" Our coach comes up with one or two of those. She was eager to talk about herself. I let her talk. She was married, and we worked at the same building, although for different firms. She frowned when I said I was a banker and trader. That's not unusual. Most people despise bankers. I'm used to that. "Oh! I know how you feel about bankers. I hate 'em all the way to the bank!" I said. She got the drift of what I was implying. I had money. Hot white chicks all love money. I made a date with her to have dinner after work. I had to leave.