Her entire life was obeying orders. She’d left her Father behind, only to fall into the hands of another dictator. Was her life her own anymore, or was she a puppet on a string, dancing to Ryan’s tune?

If she were honest, weakness should be masked at all times. Any weakness could, and would be exploited.

She counted her blessings, rather than her misfortunes.

Love was always conditional: anyone who thought otherwise was a fool.

Death was easy. Life was complicated.

It didn’t matter what he’d said or done in life, in death he was innocent.

After all, we all know Hide and Seek can be a scary game, especially when we don't want to be found.

In hindsight, the grand hero ideal she always thought he encompassed chipped away and all that remained was a cheap imitation. He embodied everything she’d hidden from in her adolescence. Boyfriends, relationships, and sex all led to disaster. Being alone was better than shattered and broken like mother: disenchanted with the life she’d been forced into.

Expectations led to disappointments; in this family, expecting more than disappointment was the first mistake

Apologies, however late, were appreciated. The principle meant more than the timing