There was not much that Jayne could say to help me. Ares had already explained the way things had been for him, and what Jayne had said to me had confirmed that for me.
I was glad that Ares had agreed to let me live separately because even with support from him and Jayne I was not going to be able to live around so many people for a while. It meant that I didn’t have to feel bad about it as I packed up the things as Jayne waited quietly at the edge of the river with her feet dipped into the cold water.
I wasn’t worried about how terrible the rest of my day would be, or how awful I would have to feel if I got caught up in the moment and kissed Ares while Zaahra could see. I was free to just be myself, and I did not have to worry about how other people may judge my every move.
I had not c
