what a tragically sweet and haunting story.

Wow, way to break my heart. That was wonderfully, amazingly written. I both love and hate this so much. Thank you.

So very sad....

This is such a beautiful and bittersweet story.  Thanks for sharing!

Poor Severus, how tragic his life is... and poor Hermione. Sigh....Very brilliantly written, and managed to earn each and every teardrop it provoked. Thank you.

OMG that was sooooo sad, and so very much in character.

Great job, although it broke my heart to read it.

Having read and reviewed a couple of your more recent/current stories, I decided to check out some of your other fics (something I often do when I like a particular author's work!)I am simply stunned by this; so much so that I almost can't type.  You are clearly someone with an exceptional gift for writing.  This was such a poignant tale.  I still have tears in my eyes as I type.  To convey such intensity of emotion in a realatively short piece and in the subtle way you did is an amazing achievement. Awesome - well done! :-)

Achingly lovely.  I don't generally enjoy one-shots, but this was really quite perfect.

Beautifully written, and perfectly sad. Even after 16 years, I still feel the same way as Severus ..... only I don't have the 'comfort' of a box of memories.I am so glad I found The Petulant Poetess, and you are my favorite author. Don't stop writing ..... I need the escape at times 

Oh God, This was tough to read at work.  I was on my lunch break and noticed that you wrote it so of course my brain said, "Hey she's awesome you should read this".  So there I was in the conference room snacking on my peanut butter sandwich and getting all weepy.  Dealing with the cancer is always hard for me.  I lost my grandmother whom I was very very close to to lung cancer.  And my father in law had brain cancer.  Stupid disease.  My grandmother was only 75 and was still very active until she started chemo.  And just like Hermione she lost all her hair and became very weak and it was very difficult to watch.  Its been almost two years now and my grandfather is very bitter just like Severus.  Especially around special days like birthdays and holidays.  Its always very touching when these things I read really hit home and you have an uncanny knack for hitting all my buttons.  Thank you for writing the tough stuff.  Thank you for bringing these difficult situations to our characters and showing how they would cope.  If you've gone through a similiar situation I'm sorry for your loss.  And I'm sorry for the over-share, I just needed to let you know.  Much Love ~ Brena

When I read the title of the story, I immediately sensed something familiar, but it wasn't until I read that it was based on Poe's poem that I felt the chill.

For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams  Of the beautiful Annabel Lee:And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes  Of the beautiful Annabel Lee:And so, all the night-tide, I lay down by the sideOf my darling--my darling--my life and my bride,  In the sepulchre there by the sea--  In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Severus is waiting for the time when he can "lay down by the side Of my darling--my darling--my life and my bride, In the sepulchre there by the sea--   In her tomb by the sounding sea."  My God! how poignant and sad, and it mirrors perfectly that measure of grief that most of us will have to contend with at some point in our lives.  I can understand Severus' grief and the sometimes misplaced anger that comes with the loss of the love of one's life.This is so well written!  You have done well in a genre that you haven't written to before.  Good for you!Beth

Awww....so sad...but awesome job!

A sweet and likewise very sad story. So fitting for him, but still... does he have to be so... well, Snape? *sighs* ;o)

Author's Response: Thank you for reading the story - I appreciate the review and the stars.  I imagine his character as the epitome of the phrase "still waters run deep."  Though he may not reveal everything, he doesn't seem the type to do anything by halves.  In this story, he loved deeply and thus feels all the trappings of mourning - denial, guilt, anger, etc. - with more emphasis than could reasonably be dealt with in one day.  But yes ... very Snape.

This is terribly sad. I had a bad feeling from nearly the beginning, but I didn't think of that. That should teach me to read the warning. Anyway, you did this brilliantly (as ever) *wipe tears*

*sob!*    I'm bawling here and it's all your fault.  I enjoyed the way you outlined their relationship through his digging through the box, seeing glimpses into their past.  I think this was the saddest line in the whole thing: But even in this, her final request, he had failed her.Lovely story, but heartbreaking. 

very moving, the tears are falling.

Wow. This was so touching and beautiful. Excellent, poignant work-- especially the use of the same two lines t beginning and end. One of the best one-shots I've read.

wow - nicely woven through dialoge and prose.  You did a lovely job with this - thanks for sharing

*when you really love a woman*; that came to mind.  Wonderful story...and so sad!

I'm sobbing now. Crying my eyes out. You brilliantly avoided mawkish to make this truly touching.

Wow, that was very beautiful. I love how you use the collection of memories and atrifacts that spur Snape's memories to tell his (and in a way, Hermione's) story. Well done indeed!

I'm choked up. So sad, and so normal. It makes me fear for my own and my husband's future. I just lost a friend two weeks ago to stomach cancer. Her poor dear husband is devastated. I can't imagine what it must be like. I'd give it five stars, but I'm a sap and always wish for happy endings.

that was sad and touching.  wonderfully written.  thanks so much

is this a one-shot? aww ...hard way ~hugs sev~ i know! he can have my weasel! i mean....my dogt...barbosa...~throws a giant white angry puff ball at him~ there ya go! 62 lbs of fluffy lurve...no worries he's good at helping with tears

WHAT A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN  PIECE. VERY SAD THANK YOU