#To quote Oscar Wilde 'the truth is rarely pure and never simple'

[londonlock]

ok so let’s talk about how mycroft didn’t know who said “the truth is rarely pure and never simple”. no offence but how did mycroft’s superb memory not remember a quote from “the importance of being earnest”, play that HE took part in like. idk what he said specifically in tst but when he was like “oh this country is this amount of kilometres wide” or whatever like. he knows that unusable random highly unknown fact and yet he forgets an actual memory? not just a memory but a play with lines that must have been drilled into him? or was this all a big set-up so that john could demonstrate that he knows oscar wilde. so john can have that Bisexual Moment. is that it

[stevespookington]

Ted Lasso S3E6, Sunflowers. A friendly match takes the team to Amsterdam, where one night out unlocks truths for many.

Or, from sunflowers to Wilde to Whitman to Van Gogh and back to sunflowers once again.

Her Voice

"Oscar and sunflowers are a valid conjunction because perhaps no figure in history has been associated with a single flower as closely as Oscar Wilde was associated with the sunflower in 1882, when he visited the flower’s native America for the entire year." (Oscar Wilde’s Reception in Kansas and the Sunflower Soirée)

"Manufacturers of household items such as wallpaper, paint, and thread created thousands of business cards depicting Wilde in a variety of poses and postures, typically with sunflowers and lilies, the flowers that became his hallmark — he became known as 'The Sunflower Apostle.'" (The Wilde Woman and the Sunflower Apostle: Oscar Wilde in the United States)

Wilde has been mentioned in relation to Ted Lasso before in this interview with James Lance.

Regarding Oscar Wilde, is there any work of his that you would like to be in, any plays or any of the stories of his or even like a you know biographical thing — anything of his that you would like to to be involved in?

I don’t know — all I know is that the most interesting bit of Oscar Wilde’s material that I’ve read so far is the transcript to the court case, the trial, when he got sentenced. I think his last words were as he was walking out the door, “Is there nothing more I can say,” as he was being shunted downstairs for two years hard labor, which was ultimately kind of a death sentence.

Which is the interview that gave us:

In addition, there is a program of one of Wilde's plays in the Van Gogh Museum.

Theatre programme for Raphaël by Romain Coolus and Salomé by Oscar Wilde (Théâtre de l'Oeuvre, 11 February 1896) in the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. In Sunflowers, there will be many truths unlocked.

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” ― Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

No reporters were invited to witness the meeting between Whitman and Wilde. This was a strange choice for two dandyish men who loved self-promotion, but it was a canny one: they would each give separate interviews afterwards, and double the attention they received. In the two hours they’d spent together, both said they’d had a very pleasant time. “One of the first things I said was that I should call him ‘Oscar,’“ Whitman told a reporter afterwards. “’I like that so much,’ he answered, laying his hand on my knee. He seemed to me like a great big, splendid boy.” When Wilde Met Whitman. (and also, A Wilde and Whitman One Night Stand?)

'"Be Curious, Not Judgmental" ― (Not) Walt Whitman. Quoted by Ted during the dart game in season 1.

All is Truth.

In 1888, Vincent Van Gogh wrote of Whitman in a letter, “He sees in the future, and even in the present, a world of healthy, carnal love, strong and frank- of friendship- of work- under the great starlit vault of heaven a something of which after all one can only call God- and eternity in it’s place above this world.” (Traces of Whitman in Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night”)

Sunflowers, study (F377), Oil on canvas, 21 x 27 cm, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.

Venus False Sunflower has masses of beautiful yellow daisy flowers with gold eyes at the ends of the stems from early summer to mid fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its serrated oval leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Many consider Sundance Kid to be the oldest dwarf sunflower. The small plant reaches a maximum of two feet, and it has semi-double leaves that are red and yellow, with a small brown disc in the middle. Sundance Kid flowers early and is easy to grow. It continues to flower longer than most sunflowers, allowing you to enjoy the beauty they add to your home for a longer time.

“The sunflower is mine in a way.” ― Vincent van Gogh

[captain-kraken]

Happy STS, Kraken!

Can you give me one quote - from your story or just a famous quote - that perfectly encapsulates Blue Blood?

Happy STS! Thanks for the ask :)

Ooh, there's quite a few quotes that would work but I think I'll go with this one by Oscar Wilde:

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple."

There are a lot of secrets throughout Blue Blood, and the truth is never just a simple answer. People are complicated, and so are the lies they tell, to themselves and others.

Especially when they're telling those lies to protect the same people that they're telling them to.

[ninetimesbluedemo]

*watching The Final Problem*

Wow, John was really ready for his last words to be an Oscar Wilde quote.

[postersbykeith]

[thewildetyme]

your favorite quote of all time?

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

— Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest.

[agent-lol19]

Oscar Wilde quotes that are making me feel things right now.

“You are a wonderful creation. You know more than you think you know, just as you know less than you want to know.”

“There seemed to be something tragic in a friendship so coloured by romance.”

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

“In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.”

“Illusion is the first of all pleasures.”

“If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life.”

“All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling.”

“Never love anybody who treats you like you’re ordinary.”

“It takes a great deal of courage to see the world in all its tainted glory, and still love it.”

“I can resist everything except temptation.”

“Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there once was something tragic.”

“Yes: I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.”

“You don’t love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear.”

“Actual life was chaos, but there was something terribly logically in the imagination…”

“The curves of your lips rewrite history.”

“Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.”

“Some things are more precious because they don’t last.”

Why I posted this

My life is in a weird place right now. I feel like every move I make is a contradiction, but Oscar Wilde thrived on contradictions, and if he can do it, so can I.

[hidinginawell]

Oscar Wilde Quotes I Geek Over

Everything in the world is about sex except sex.  Sex is about power.

The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast.

To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.

I can resist everything except temptation.

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.

The truth is rarely pure and never simple.

Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much.

[cmbynwritingfests]

CMBYN Drabble Challenge | Prompt #25

Hi!

For our new prompt we have a quote : “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” - Oscar Wilde.

As always, there is no minimum word count for a drabble and no strict maximum word count. The preferred maximum word count is 500, but entries over 500 words are more than welcome too!

If you like to give yourself an extra challenge for this prompt (optional), use the following word in your work : Pride.

All forms of art are welcome!

As always, this challenge has no due date, so take as long as you like to create something for it! Or if you prefer, you can also create something for one of the previous prompts.

Here is the Challenge Collection to which you can add your work.

For more rules & guidelines, see this post.

Have fun! 💙

PS. If you’d like to submit a prompt for the Drabble Challenge, you can do so by sending a message or an ask. It can be anything from a word, to a quote, to a song, or a photo.

[daringdarlingdt]

What's your top five quotes ?

Ooh good question and thanks for sending an ask anon!! That said I don’t really memorize quotes much so this is gonna take me a minute and I’ll probably only be able to come up with a few.

I’ve always liked the one “shoot for the moon cuz even if you miss you’ll land among the stars” like idk how inspirational it is but I like that it’s realistic honestly.

Not to be cringey or anything but that one line from Doctor who where he says “in my 900 years of life I’ve never met anyone unimportant” I don’t even know if that’s the right wording but I think that perfectly encapsulates a lot of the values of dr who, especially the RTD era, which is probably why I love the show so much

That one Winston Churchill quote where a woman said smth like “if you were my husband I’d put poison in your tea” and he responds “madam if I were your husband I’d drink it” because I find it absolutely fucking buckwild that Churchill was capable of such scalding roasts omg

Oscar Wilde, one of my favourite people of the past said “the truth is rarely pure and never simple” which sounds super deep but I also just think about it politically. Whether you think about it on a personal or political level the quote kinda sums up how eager people are to see black and white which often means omitting a lot of nuance which would make a more reasonable truth.

“To thine own self be true” Shakespeare. Kinda a classic sentiment. Oscar Wilde also said the whole “be yourself, everyone else is taken” but I think that line’s kinda been done to death and I like the succinctness of Shakespeare’s (a rarity for him) and it has a nice rhythm. Now I believe the actual context is kinda murderous but that’s not important.

You didn’t ask for whys but I thought I’d provide explanations. And I did manage to come up with 5! Yay me!

[booknerdsammi]

Bookworm Quote of the Day:

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

—The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

[tulipscomeinallsortsofcolors]

Angelonia, Arum-Lily, Aster? Sorry for not putting in the questions, love you!

Angelonia: Favorite t.v. show?

right now probably The Witcher

Arum-Lily: What’s the farthest you’d go for a stranger?

see, this is such an interesting question to me because 1) i have almost no idea what its asking and 2) the situations to which is could apply are nigh unccountable

off the top of my head, if i saw a someone on the side of the road broke down, i would probably stop to help. in the dark i would not

i have been known to pay for the car behind me in a drive throughs food, especially if i can see that its a mother with children, but i have also been known to pretend i cannot hear people asking me to sign petitions i dont understand

so like??? idk i guess, it really depends on the exact situation

Aster: What’s one of your favorite quotes?

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple,” - Oscar Wilde

[rp-meme-central]

Oscar Wilde quotes - sentence starters

1. “Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” 

2. “There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.” 

3. “True friends stab you in the front.” 

4. “There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” 

5. “My own business always bores me to death; I prefer other people’s.” 

6. “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” 

7. “Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” 

8. “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” 

9. “I can resist anything except temptation.” 

10. “Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing!” 

11. “Memory is the diary that we all carry with us.” 

12. “The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.” 

13. “It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating.” 

14. “Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has ever known.” 

15. “I have the simplest of tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.” 

16. “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” 

17. “I am so clever that sometimes I do not understand a single word of what I am saying.” 

18. “I can never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the _____.” 

19. “You can never be overdressed or over-educated.”

20. “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” 

21. “If one cannot enjoying reading a book over and over again, there is no point in reading it at all.” 

22. “I don’t want to go to Heaven. None of my friends are there.” 

23. “Never love anyone who treats you like you’re ordinary.” 

24. “The heart was made to be broken.” 

25. “With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?” 

26. “Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.” 

27. “Who, being loved, is poor?” 

28. “I have nothing to declare except my genius.” 

29. “Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic.” 

30. “Whenever people agree with me, I always feel I must be wrong.” 

31. “To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose both looks like carelessness.” 

32. “The world is a stage and the play is badly cast.” 

33. “To get back my youth, I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable.” 

34. “The suspense is terrible. I hope it will last.” 

35. “Some things are more precious because they don’t last long.” 

36. “An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all.” 

37. “I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an ass of yourself.” 

38. “There is no sin except stupidity.” 

[easyluckyfree45]

Hey babes! For the ask game 📝 🎥

Darling!!! Thanks for sending in another ask!

📝 Fave quote - so the Jane Austen one I have on my profile AND "The truth is rarely pure and never simple" from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde.

I answered the movie one already but another favorite movie is Cabin in the Woods. I can watch this movie a thousand times and never get sick of it.

[just-another-humanbean]

27.07.2020

Today’s a very productive day. Jasmine in the rooftop garden blossomed, so i put one of those lovelies beside my desk. 

Quote of the day: “Truth is rarely pure, and never simple” – Oscar Wilde. With all due respect to one of the greatest poets of all time, i often find the truth itself to be deceptively simple. It’s the path of getting there that proves to be treacherous. 

[livsoulsecrets]

Fictober Day 1 - Confession

Prompt number: 1 Fandom: The Last Hours Rating: General Audiences Warnings/Tags: Unrequited love, Angst

Part 1

Part 2

Summary: “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

—

Cordelia finds Matthew in the library, with a copy of “The Picture of Dorian Gray” in hand, all his attention focused on the book. His long legs are over one of the chair’s arms. The position looks uncomfortable, but the boy doesn’t seem to mind it. Cordelia can’t help but smile at the sight, not when Matthew seems so relaxed, none of his usual charm deflecting attention from his real self.

— Each of us has heaven and hell in him. — Matthew reads, looking up. Cordelia gasps, surprised he noticed her. — Do you have both as well, Cordelia?

— Of course I do. — She answers, fixing her dress before sitting across from Matthew, composing herself. Matthew was looking at her attentively, the way he usually did: as if he knew something she didn’t. She thinks of the lies she kept to this day and adds: — We all have both, I believe.

— I could argue you have only heaven inside yourself, but you know it better than I do, I suppose.

— You think too highly of me. — Cordelia dismisses his claim, putting a stead of hair behind her ear. Matthew closes the book and puts it down, moving to sit properly at the chair.

— Maybe. — He complies, shrugging. — What brings you here? — Matthew asks, bending his head, moving to a topic that would be less controversial.

— Lucie said she needs to help her mom before we start training, so she told me you were here and could keep me company until she was ready. — Cordelia explains. If Lucie had offered any other boy’s company, Cordelia would have refused it in favor of staying in Lucie’s bedroom and reading her newest “The Beautiful Cordelia” chapter. Thomas and Christopher were lovely and would never behave poorly, but she still felt a bit awkward being alone with them. James was, of course, out of the table, since they broke off their engagement and everything between them became even more complicated and embarrassing. But Matthew was a steady presence in her life now, somebody that she could trust as a friend.

She still felt like she didn’t know so much about him: why he was so attached to the cursed flask he carried around and why he sometimes felt so distant even standing so close to her. The only thing she knew is that, despite his bad fame and careless facade, Matthew saw Cordelia as herself, not an extension of Lucie or James, not as the product of her parents or as Alastair’s sister, Matthew saw the dreams Cordelia had inside herself and the fears she carried within her heart. It was something she had cherished more and more since the news of her broken engagement reached across all the Shadowhunters society.

— I guess it is my duty to entertain you meanwhile. — Matthew says, eyes facing Cordelia with attention.

— I would like nothing more. — She answers, taking some solace in the idea of being distracted by Matthew. He could always make her smile.

— I am afraid I am not that entertaining today, though. I find myself in a quite monotonous mood.

— Is that why you are reading “The Picture of Dorian Gray” again? — Cordelia asks, curious.

— Perhaps it is. I know what will happen in every page of this book, it gives me a sense of comfort. — Matthew explains, caressing the cover of the novel.

— Well, then you should continue reading it, I can be entertained elsewhere. — She offers, not wishing to disturb him even further. He stays silent for a moment and she takes it as a sign to leave. Cordelia gets up from the chair, ready to flee.

— Cordelia, no, come back! There is no need for that. — She stops, surprised. — Your presence gives me just as much comfort as the book, don’t misunderstand me. I just did not know how to express it. — Matthew doesn’t face her eyes, which is incredibly out of character for him. Cordelia chuckles with his response and sits back down.

— I am happy to know that. — She answers and Matthew sighs, relieved. — That being said, wouldn’t it be good for you to talk about what is bothering you? I am a great listener, as Lucie can confirm. — He smiles at her, his hands crossed in his lap. His shoulders are down, as if a weight is pushing Matthew’s body towards the floor. It breaks her heart.

— I do think it would be good for me. I just do not believe it would be good for anyone else. — He confesses.

— This is quite a pessimist way to look at it.

— It is the truth.

— “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” — Cordelia quotes, a sad smile on her face. He looks up to her, surprised.

— That is not Dorian Gray...

— It is still Oscar Wilde. I did some research on him, I had to know why you adored him so much.

— And? — Matthew questions.

— And what?

— Did you find out why?

— Yes, I believe I did. — Cordelia complies. — He is a lot like you, very rebellious and strong-willed. It is such a shame he wasn’t understood in the way he deserved. No one should go through what he went through.

— I completely agree.

— So, you must agree with him about the truth, right? About it not being so simple?

— I absolutely do. — Matthew answers, intrigued about where she is going.

— Therefore, it is impossible for you to know if telling the truth will be bad for anyone. It is not so simple. Taking such shortcut will only upset you further and deeper. I believe you should take a leap of faith and trust me.

— You are very stubborn.

— It is my fatal flaw, I believe.

— Do you wish to know what is mine? — Cordelia nods, interested.

— Always doing what you ask me to do. — Matthew answers, earning a surprised laugh out of Cordelia.

— Does it mean you will tell me the truth? — Cordelia is at the edge of her seat, barely controlling her curiosity and concern.

— I guess one could say that. — Matthew gets up from the chair, his sorrowful posture forgotten now. His eyes are shinning, like he is a mischievous boy plotting something. It is a good change, Cordelia thinks. He walks to her and offers his hand to help her get up. She takes it.

— Promise me that, no matter what I say, you will not leave. — Matthew whispers, his voice so low she only hears it because he is standing close to her in the silent library. He didn’t let go of her hand yet, she can’t help but notice.

— I promise. I would never, Matthew. — Cordelia swears, meaning every word she says. He takes a deep breath, finally looking into her eyes, his hands still attached to hers. Matthew seems to be gathering the courage to say something.

— You are destroying me, Cordelia. — He finally says and Cordelia feels all the air being sucked out of her lungs. The weight of his words is so powerful it feels like he just pushed her out of a cliff. She lets go of his hands in the middle of her shock. — Not because you wish to do so, but because I do. I wish for you every single day.

She tries to say something, but no words come, Matthew smiles sadly at her, not surprised with her reaction. Cordelia hates how much pain goes through his eyes when he notices her silence, still, she says nothing.

— I do not expect a future with you. I would be a fool to do so. I know where your heart lays as it is where my heart lays as well in a way. I just needed you to know, even if it is selfish and stupid and reckless. — Matthew barely breathes while he speaks, his heart pounding in his ears. — I need to say it, even if it is only once, even if it is pointless: I love you, Cordelia Carstairs. I love your fierceness every time you walk into battle, I love the courage you carry yourself with no matter what comes your way. I love you because most of the people I know barely exist, but you... You live. You shine brighter than I ever thought was possible to. I love everything that makes you the hero you are. You make me want things I can’t have. I’m aware it is the worst moment for me to tell you this, but I can’t live one more second of my life without you knowing where my devotion lays. It is with you, it will always, always be with you. — Matthew’s eyes are wide, an immensity of green that Cordelia could not handle staring at right now. Her hands are gripping the sides of her dress so strongly she could tear it apart.

Cordelia had noticed Matthew cared deeply for her, but she never thought, even for a brief moment, that he could love her. Still, here he was, baring his whole heart to her. She felt awful for not having any answer for him. Despite that, Cordelia was also flattered by his words, blushing all over, barely believing someone on Earth could feel so strongly about her, that Matthew of all people could so desperately love her.

— I’m sorry to burden you with my confession, but I hope you find in your heart the will to forgive me. — Matthew adds, his look was so haunted Cordelia had to fight the urge to reach out for him. She remembered one of the times Matthew took her home, his jacket over her shoulders, his arms surrounding her. She felt safe in his embrace. Looking at him in so much pain, so crushed and hopeless, made Cordelia want to make Matthew feel better. Still, she was painfully aware that the only thing that could truly mend his heart was returning his love completely and, that, she could not do.

— Oh, Matthew... You know I would always forgive you. — Cordelia says, a sad smile on her lips. — I’m afraid you know how I feel. — Matthew flinches, staring at the ground. He doesn’t seem surprised, but listening to her words still hurt just the same. — I once said anyone you loved would be dear to me. What I never told you is that anyone loved by you is so very lucky. I have been watching you for months now and it is admirable how much love you hold in your heart, for your parents, James, Thomas, Christopher, Anna... So much love you even give it to me. I can’t possibly know what I did to deserve it, but I’m so deeply honored for receiving it. — Cordelia reaches for his hands, his eyes finally facing her. Matthew is quiet, no walls protecting him, nothing keeping them apart. — I really love you, Matthew, so very much.

— Just not in the same way. — He completes her words, pain flashing trough his eyes while Cordelia holds his hands among hers even tighter. — I understand.

— Yes... I hope that doesn’t ruin the friendship we built during those last few months. — Cordelia says softly. — I know it is asking for too much, but I don’t want to lose you. I don’t like picturing my life without Matthew Fairchild in it.

— I imagine it would be very boring. All tones of beige and gray, I suppose. — Matthew offers, an attempt at a smile on his lips. He still looks exhausted, but he also seems somewhat relieved he isn’t hiding this truth from her anymore. Matthew has always been so good at hiding his emotions that Cordelia feels privileged for being able to see him experiencing so much at once.

— Oh, the saddest ones, it would be a tragedy. — Cordelia agrees, mesmerized by him as she usually is.

— I- I will need some time, getting used to you knowing the truth, but I promise I won’t wreck our friendship. I will do everything in my power to stay beside you. — Cordelia knows he means it because there is no trace of his usual playfulness in his voice. He is absolutely serious now. It is quite a sight: his carefully brushed hair falling in his eyes, his eyes a bit weary as if looking at Cordelia takes more effort than he can bare, his hands, so surprisingly soft for a Shadowhunter, tangled among hers. She wonders if she is one of the few people that have ever seen Matthew like this in a very long time. That sends an alarm through her whole body and she takes a step back. She is horrified by the thought that crossed her mind.

— That is all I wish for. — She says, her voice trembling. — Matthew, there is one more thing I must ask of you, if you would allow me.

— Anything you need. — Matthew complies. Cordelia lets go of Matthew’s hands. He straightens himself up, seeming to miss the contact between them. But what Cordelia is about to say takes a tool of her and she can’t do it still being so connected to him.

— Matthew, I say this with all the respect I have for you, please, believe me. Still, I must ask: this reckless behavior you have adopted... The lack of regard you show for yourself at times, is it all because of me? I don’t mean to sound arrogant, but the last thing I would ever want was to be the reason of your suffering. I need to know if I’m the sole cause of it. If that is the case, I must do everything in my power to lighten your burden. — Cordelia wished she had succeeded in her intention, that she hadn't offended Matthew or pushed him away for good.

— My suffering? — Matthew repeated, sounding astonished. — You are concerned about my suffering? — He laughs, but the sound is shallow, no real happiness attached to it. — Cordelia, I wish I could explain to you what truly haunts me, but that would go against what I promised you. I said I wouldn’t ruin our friendship and telling you the truth would do just that. If it eases your heart, know you are not the only source of my pain. Trust me, even the pain you cause me is welcomed into my heart. Don’t feel like you must purposefully ease my distress because your mere presence accomplishes that every time we are united. Don’t ask me to explain it any further. I’m afraid I won’t be able to deny you anything for much longer, so, please, respect my wish.

Cordelia is still worried for him, wondering what he is hiding from her, from everyone, but she decides she won’t push. She asked away too much from Matthew already, the least Cordelia can do is follow his desire.

— If you prefer it this way, then, of course, I will not ask for anything else. Just know that if you ever decide to talk about what concerns you, I will be right here.

— I appreciate that. — He answers, nodding. After that, she couldn’t stop herself any longer, Cordelia took a step towards Matthew and he met her halfway. She wrapped his arms around his neck, holding on to the boy with all of her strength. His arms circled her waist, attaching himself to her as if she would disappear at any moment. — I am glad you told me, despite how hard it must have been for you. — Her head was tucked in the curve of Matthew’s neck, her voice muffled.

— I am glad for that as well. Thank you, my dear Cordelia, for always knowing the right thing to say. — Matthew whispered back to her, his love becoming their very own secret in that moment, something that bonded the two of them together deeper than anything else ever could. Cordelia found she didn’t want to let the boy go any time soon. Matthew was so familiar to her at this point that being surrounded by him felt natural to her, despite what he just shared with her. Matthew breaks away from her, reluctantly. — I think I must go. I need some time to process everything that happened today.

— I understand, of course. Just- Promise me you will be okay? — Cordelia asks, her heart heavy. She wishes to ask him to come back to her soon, but she refrains from doing so.

— I will try. — Matthew answers, reaching for Cordelia’s hand and kissing it softly. She holds her breath, a chill going down that spine. The gesture is somehow more intimate than the hug they just shared. It is Matthew’s last act of vulnerability.

— It is all one can do. — Cordelia says, watching Matthew carefully while he takes a step away from her.

— Goodbye for now, Cordelia. — Matthew smiles at her, a bit shy, but just as brilliant as always. She smiles back.

— Goodbye, Matthew. Only for now. — Cordelia replies, watching him walk away. She sits down at one of the most comfortable chairs of the library, but remains restless.

For some reason, Cordelia despises watching Matthew leave. It feels awfully wrong, even if she knows it is what he needs to do for now. She can only hope it won’t be too long until he comes back because, if Cordelia is sure of anything, it is that London is more her home than any other place has ever been and Matthew is one of the people responsible for that.

All she really could do was wait... And she would, for as long as he needed her to.