He awakened to sadness; nothing new. But he had thought for once it might be different. After what he and Nia had shared two hours ago, he thought the euphoria might last into his dreams. Instead he dreamed old dreams of identitylessness and awakened haunted. Yes, there was joy when she touched him and warmth inside when she held him. But now he carried her sadness, too. This too wasn’t new—yet it was. He had made her part of himself in a way he had never done before. It was a different pain. But this one he could bear.