Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

“Obadiah and I were married on that lanai," I tell him "--the night before Timothy was resurrected. I thought that I'd be with him forever…I thought that I was his, and that he was mine...I thought, I-I-I thought--"
"Shhhhhh," Arik reassures me. "I understand now, I do…Benediction made me feel much the same way, Ja? I felt that there was no life without him…but there is, Brian...don't you see? I forgave Beni' everything, even when he hurt me; even when he killed me. Well, not this time. Never again. It does not mean that I don't love him--I will always love him--but I love myself, too. At last, I love me. That's what I have to show you as your brother and your friend, Dear.”
― Lioness DeWinter, Corinthians

“But what about my house in Heaven?" I asked, my tone soft and piteous. "Whatever would I do there? It's filled with my memories of Obadiah. We built it together with our own hands. We laid the marble and carved the statues. I sewed the curtains, the bedclothes and the tapestries. I even created the flowers and the landscaping which surrounded our grand mansion beside the seaâ€�" I begin to sob, and Arik pulls me close. I rest my cheek against his chest and close my eyes. "Wh-When we first got to Heaven--me an' Obadiah--we were all each other had. Everyone else was still down on earth, mournin' us. Our physical bodies had been destroyed by Hana's guillotines. Timothy knew that his own death was comin', and he had specifically asked for the two of us to go and make a place for him in Heaven. When we arrived, Heaven was beautiful, but empty. I was suddenly able to see again, and the colors…my heart just danced, y'know? I began to create right away: houses, flowers, animals…it was glorious. I was never happier. It filled up my heart and pushed out the anguish an' guilt that I felt about leavin' all of you behind on earth to suffer. Obadiah and I were filled with so much joy then. I had never seen him so happy. An' the horses, Arik…the horses were his…beautiful, winged creatures, completely dedicated to him, but forever free...he would never have dreamed of restraining them. We would sit on the lanai and watch them...these beautiful creatures, who had nothing in their hearts but loveâ€�"
I snuggle closer as he presses my head against his chest and weeps with me.”
― Lioness DeWinter, Corinthians

“Indeed, everyone is seemingly smiling and laughing, except for the large group of gypsy boys, and other followers of Tim's, whom have been sectioned off from the others. Knowing full well the risk of publicly supporting Timothy's ministry, they have nonetheless very bravely come to offer moral support, and to pay their last respects.

My eyes fill with tears at their dedication and loyalty; as humble as they are, every one of them is grander than any earthly king to me...”
― Lioness DeWinter, Southern Cross