#v;middle

He gave the girl a soft smile. Over the pastyears, this girl had been the only one he showed any kindness to. She was the only one he did not take his anger and sadness out on. “It is not any good, I’m afraid. I havenot written anything of worth for nearly a decade. Not since...before I came here.”

“It  is  how  I’ve spent a majority ofmy life, and I am still fine,” he said,brushing   her   words   off   with   adismissive   wave  of  his  hand.  “I am  attempting  to  write more than this...musical   blasphemy  I  havebeen producing.” 

“And yet you shame me for staying in my office.With  work to do or not, I prefer to stay out of the crowd  when  a  show  is being prepared for,” he said with a small smile. It faded, however, whenshe  spoke  again.  “I have been trying. Though I have had little success.”

             “I am happy to have a moment of peace.             And    you,    Alice?    How    are    you?”

         “It  is  heard  of,” Erik replied in the same light          tone. “We have become quite popular here, as          you know. It requires me to be very busy.”

“I do not believe so, but perhaps we shallsee,”  he  said,  his  voice soft, lacking itsusual chill. “Goodnight, Alice.”

       Love...That  was  not  a  word  he heard       often,  and  never  one he heard directed      at  himself.  He felt a joy blooming in his      chest  that he had not felt in many years.       Still,  he  could  not  return the sentiment        to the girl. “I fear I am no longer capable       of love myself, my dear Alice.”

                         “There  are  many  people  here, some less                          kind  than you. Allow them their space, and                          do  not  cause trouble with them. If they ask                          you  for  something,  it  is  easier  to  do  so.                           You may eat with either them or me, but we                          all  eat  breakfast at nine o’clock and dinner                           at six. You will be expected to get your own                          lunch,  however.  Behave,  and there will be                           no  troubles,  misbehave,  and  you  will  be                           punished  according  to  what  it  is  you did.                          Most importantly, do not speak of me to the                    others.”