"Perhaps I'm only holding onto the good in things," she told him with a sad smile. "It just made me think of simpler times. Better times. But yes, even the painful memories bubbled up. But even those were a nice change of pace, even if it was exchanging one pain for another. I.... I've had a lot of time to reflect about my life. And I don't want to live with regrets. At least not any new ones. Not if I can help it. Not that I now have my own choice....."
And here she paused, and hesitated over her decision.
"I didn't tell my brother this, but I've been thinking about leaving this country for good. Attalia Arrant is already dead. I could go anywhere, be anyone, do anything."