Wow, that was amazing and chilling and... Is it wrong that I found it erotic?

Kelly, you astound me time and again with the measure in which you get people.  Your characters are flawed, yes, but in a way that makes them so real. You could overdo it, and you could underdo it, but instead you are always spot on perfect.  I also like the open-endedness of this.  The end felt sad, but it also felt hopeful.  I think it was not only helpful to Severus to have that reprieve from his wrongdoings, but it also did something for her to be able to assist him in letting go.  I love the mutual benefit here.What a lovely tale!  It makes me so happy every time I see something new from you.  Please continue to write because you are truly talented.

Profound. That was one of those words I couldn't find. Fortuantely, moiramountain did.

Thoughtful. Powerful. Painful.   Intelligent. Potent. Poignant.   I’m sure there are hundreds – or even thousands – more appropriate words to describe what you’ve written and my experience reading it, but right now I can’t find them.   Just now, I can’t say why I decided to click, as neither the brief description on the outside nor the characters listed nor the genre promised a comfortable read, but even before I’d finished reading your author’s note, I realised I was glad I had.   Your explorations of the relationships and the cumulative effects of cruelties – small and large – was better than much of what I’ve read anywhere else, in any other form. And the way you’ve written those explorations is nothing short of perfect.   Saying “well done” at this point seems inadequate, trite, even. But it will have to suffice as I’m still too moved to even approach the level of eloquence I feel this piece has earned you.   Well done.

You already know, from my comments elsewhere, how profound I consider this piece.  It bears repeated readings to fully appreciate the subtle layers of emotion and psyche you've constructed.  Disturbing and yet achingly poignant.  There are insufficient stars...