"Ohh...? Interesting... what did you learn?"
He looked straight at Sylvia. "Running away from your responsibilities doesn't make you free, it only makes you feel alone."
"I've also learned that being strong doesn't mean you can't be hurt. It's about being brave enough to stand up. And I've known that the people you care about are worth any sacrifice."
Rick took a deep breath. "So yes, I know what I'm getting into. And I'm still here to try."
Sylvia just looked at him for a long time. Then she smiled slowly.
It wasn't the sly smile she'd given him before or the funny smirk she'd had when she teleported him. This was real and warm, and it changed her whole face.
She said in a soft voice, "You really are interesting, Rick Rolland."
"I haven't met anyone who could surprise me in a long time. I hope you do well in these tests, not just because I need someone to help me through the dark times, but also because I really want to know what kind of person you'll be."
