politely as he tries to peacefully navigate a topic he thinks may result in an outburst. He abandons the attempt, and I can see him searching for an alternate subject to talk about “so today is the day” he says with a pat on my shoulder. I let out a sort of nervous sigh “yeah I never thought I would be this anxious!” I said with a chuckle. He smiles in a self-satisfied way, having successfully changed the intended topic of discussion without me noticing, or so he thinks. “There is no need to be anxious my friend, she looks absolutely stunning, and she is positively overflowing with anticipation” he said in a calming tone, a sympathetic smile on his face. “Doesn’t she always look stunning?” I ask him, of course I am only being playful, but I see the genuine alarm at my question and barely keep from laughing at his desperation “of course she does I … I never said she did not. Just that she looks even more stunning today!” I reached out and gave his shoulder a friendly pat “a joke Alex, a joke” he looks as if he might strangle me, as comprehension sinks in “why you played me…” he said with a start, but I raised my hand to interrupt him “my friend who haven’t I played into a joke” I said disarmingly sending his anger away with a wave of my hand, and a smile. “Yes, you are rather notorious for your jokes, aren’t you?” he replied begrudgingly I laugh “no I am not really Alex when have I had time to joke? I spent nearly a year fighting a war, and this whole year I have not been left alone by this incompetent government of ours! Constantly will you lead us, give us advice, okay will you at least write a constitution, surprise the people want you to represent them in the senate. It never ends one thing after another and does anyone stop to think that maybe I don’t want power, I don’t want them to run to me for advice, I want for even just the smallest amount of time to be normal!” I surprised myself with the outburst, and immediately I regrated it, it gave him the opening he had been looking for “But you are not normal! You are extraordinary in every aspect of the word. Do you know just how many people would turn down what you have been offered? 219Please respect copyright.PENANAbNNnnw6FTk