I never thought I would fall in love with Orina. The first time we met, she was fourteen, my newest student, having failed to learn anything but the basics of magic from her previous two teachers. At first, I saw her as little more than that -- a student. Just another young girl that I would teach magic to. There had been so many over the near-millennia of my life that they had all blended into the same person almost. Until her.

I've been alone all these centuries, never letting anyone into my life because of the way I am. Immortal, unable to produce children.... I'm not exactly anyone's idea of a prize, beyond the physical, which is all anyone's ever wanted from me. Nothing serious, nothing real.... no one ever wanted that from me. So I shut them all out. Didn't let anyone near. Until Orina.

Even before I began to see her as more than just my student, I knew she was special. Different from anyone I'd ever taught... anyone I'd ever known. Wry, intelligent, witty, brave.... beautiful. Even before I fell for her, she was an important part of my life, someone I really cared about. She was the first person I felt comfortable around in ages. She made me laugh. Up until I met her, nothing had seemed important -- I felt like I was living the same day over and over again. So repetitious. She made everything seem new and fun again.

It wasn't long after her sixteenth birthday that it happened. On one seemingly normal day, everything changed... I changed. She was the same, but I saw her differently. I haven't been the same since.... and I wouldn't want it any other way. When I looked at her, I wanted her... I needed her.... and I knew I couldn't have her. So I spent the next year trying to get over her. I failed. And I'm glad.

I never thought for a moment that she might feel the same way. She hid her feelings so skillfully that the idea that she might be hiding something never occurred to me. Until that moment five years ago when she turned around, and looked up at me with an emotion I'd never seen before in her beautiful eyes. I knew that it was forbidden to do so, but I kissed her anyway. I haven't regretted it since. I did leave her right after it happened.... only because I was appalled at myself, for slipping like that. I thought I had done wrong by kissing her; I realized later that it was the right thing to do, because there's no way I could let her slip away from me. She's worth everything that I risk by being with her, and more.

Tonight is the first night in the five years we've been together that I've stayed with her. Looking down at her, curled up against me, her lovely face bathed in starlight, I regret not having done this sooner. The hurt in her eyes earlier when she complained of how I always leave cut straight through me. I love her so much.... she's so important to me.... I can't stand hurting her. Yet we both hurt each other, unknowingly, by not speaking up about the way we feel about each other.