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"My shoulders feel straighter," He continued, "and my breath, there's something about it. It fills my chest and it's so cool, and it just feels, it's hard to describe, as thought it was fresh. Every breath seems pure. I'm not sure, I think I can remember, when it was different, when there was something else, when there was—"

"—a weight."

"Yes! A weight."

Drinks arrived at the table and the black haired lady thanked the waitress with the familiarity of a regular. The waitress nodded in return and went to serve other patrons.

"Thank you." He said taking a sip. The black haired lady absently waved off his thanks with her hand. "Isn't that strange? I don't think I remember anything, I'm not even sure what it's like, to remember something. There's something there, but I can't quite hold on to it. It feels like it should be important, but I just can't be bothered. You have the most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen." He laughed. "Can that even make sense? Or does it make too much sense?"

"With time that will change, all of it. Be glad and enjoy the way you feel for now. In some respects," She paused and brought her wine goblet to her lips. "It's better for you and harder for me. They will deny it, but when I speak now, and strip you of that, there will be sorrow in that for me. They seek to strip everything from me, I think it makes it easier for them." Her lips tightened into a thin line, the first look of sadness or anger he had seen since entering the Crow's Next. "But they have no idea of heavy the burden is. You on the hand may understand very shortly."