Valerie

“Indeed, sir! Yes; I knew that Pussy was looking out for me.'
'Do you keep a cat down there?' asked Mr. Grewgious.
Edwin colored a little, as he explained: 'I call Rosa Pussy.'
"Oh, Really,' said Mr. Grewgious, smoothing down his head:' that's very affable.”
― Charles Dickens, The Mystery of Edwin Drood

“This pure young feeling, this gentle and forbearing feeling of each towards the other, brought with it its reward in a softening light that seemed to shine on their position. The relations between them did not look wilful, or capricious, or a failure, in such a light; they became elevated into something more self-denying, honorable, affectionate, and true.”
― Charles Dickens, The Mystery of Edwin Drood

“The snow fell fast and thick. He looked up for a moment in the air, and thought that those white ashes strewn upon his hopes and misery, were suited to them well. He looked round on the whitening ground, and thought how Marion's foot-prints would be hushed and covered up, as soon as made, and even that remembrance of her blotted out. But he never felt the weather, and he never stirred.”
― Charles Dickens, The Battle of Life

“Oh, you," he whispered. "How can you be real?"
"When I'm with you," she said, "I'm not sure that I am."
And before he knew it, he had slid his hands behind her ears, and threaded his fingers through her hair. He kissed her forehead, there, and there, and found her cheek and kissed it, there, and her nose. Then slowly, slowly, he brought his mouth to hers, and gently, reverently, kissed her.”
― Julie Berry, Lovely War