"I'm sorry..." Ayrie said. "Is there any way you can look at me as just me? Not as her? I'll try not to act on feelings that are not my own if you'll try not to think of me as her."

She thought that she could separate her own feelings from the memory of Astoria's feelings. She had already begun to be attracted to him before, but had thought he was off limits to her. Now she wasn't so sure, but she knew she had to go slow.

"I like you Asran. Me, Ayrie, not just the memories I have. But more than that I care about you, and I want to be your friend... Even if," she paused, "even if that means that I should stay away for a while."