Prologue
To: Claudius
My love, I hope you are well and have arrived safely at your home. Rest assured everything is fine here and no one suspected anything. Our secret is safe with me.
I never thought that anyone could make me feel the way that you do and I long for your touch. The people here are cruel and torturing me in order to satisfy their needs but if they have a bite of me, they could see me thinking of you and that would risk not only your life but also your kind. My family would not approve of this either and both of us will be forced into exile.
Claudius, I know you did not mean to do it. I know you were just trying to stand up to your own kind and for that you should not feel guilty of what you done. I know you well - you don’t feel guilty to my kind, you feel the need to be guilty because of Timothy’s relations to me. But it is alright, I forgive you as you have done the right thing for yourself and your kind.
Your bravery and honesty is what I love about you, my dear. I hope that you stay like that until your last breath. Please write to me soon. I miss your kind words and the sense of aspiration in your voice.
I love you.
Love,
Abigail
