#scotland

"I thought the force of my wanting must wake ye, surely. And then ye did come. . ."He stopped, looking at me with eyes gone soft and dark. "Christ, Claire, ye were so beautiful, there on the stair, wi' your hair down and the shadow of your body with the light behind ye…."He shook his head slowly. "I did think I should die, if I didna have ye,"he said softly. "Just then."

"I stood still, vision blurring, and in that moment, I heard my heart break. It was a small, clean sound, like the snapping of a flower's stem."

"The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it."

"To see the years touch ye gives me joy", he whispered, "for it means that ye live."