Rynne

“Do you even know,” she said, and I could tell from the sound of her voice that she was about to cry, “can you even imagine what it’s like to know that nothing you can do will make any difference? That nothing you can do will protect the people you love? That anything you could possibly ever do is less than worthless?”
I could. “And yet you do it anyway.”
“Superstitious savage that I am.” Definitely crying now. “Nothing I do will make any difference. But I will make you look at it. I will make you see what it is you’ve done, and ever after, if you would look away, if you would ever claim to be just, or proper, you’ll have to lie to yourself outright.”
“Most esteemed Queter,” I said, “idealist that you are, young as you are, you can have no idea just how easy it is for people to deceive themselves.” By now the tops of the mountains were bright, and we were nearly over the ridge.
“I’ll do it anyway.”
“You will,” I agreed, and we walked the rest of the way in silence.”
― Ann Leckie, Ancillary Sword

“I had a dream you died, it was so horrible, it was
worse than anything, I don't want you to go, please
don't leave me, I can't bear being alive without you,
I just want our souls to fly around forever and have
adventures together.
She cries raw as a child, sliming Isidol's toes with
hot saltwater and mucus.
Isidol starts crying too. She sinks to the floor and
holds Vellus so tight and their hair tangles together in
the smear of their faces.
For days after, when Isidol is sleeping, Vellus will
listen to see if she's still breathing. When Isidol goes
outside, she will go with her, no matter how she feels,
and hold her arm tightly.
It was so hard, she sobs. I was alone for so long.”
― Porpentine Charity Heartscape, PSYCHO NYMPH EXILE