"built an opera house, for you in the deepest jungle. and i walked across its stage, singing with my eyes closed."

• we could get better better mileage: (E) “have you ever gotten someone pregnant?"
• and other oxymorons: (E) ilya opens the drawer and stares at the dress once a day–sometimes twice, sometimes three times-petting along the soft fabric and wondering how it would slip down his body.
• a tebya: (E) ilya knew that he had just been conjuring up worries due to his own insecurities, and knew better than to take those out on shane. at least he should.
• helpless, tender, open: (E) shane gets sick, and ilya still wants.
• a wolf in a birdcage: (M) when ilya rozanov moved to ottawa to be closer to shane, he thought he'd made the right decision. instead, he finds himself in a prison of his own making.