That only made her feel worse. Fresh tears broke out. Her shoulders began to shake again. She hugged herself and closed her eyes. Noah. She had just wanted to be loved. And she had loved him. She had seen the goodness in him, or so she had thought. She had believed they could be happy together.

But Noah didn't want her either.

"Tis me own fault," she cried quietly. "I'm sorry. I've no right to cry." Yet she did.