OMG, thank you! What a complete and total joy this comment is! It's a wonderful shock to the system to know that I reached a reader on every level. This is why I write. (Well, for the deep personal pleasure of living in the story - that, too. But you know what I mean.) It makes me giddy with happiness to hear that you followed me right into the story and fell in love. And as a writer compulsive about images, I'm *hugely* relieved that the descriptive language worked for you.
Thank you again. I will savor this response and come back to it when I'm feeling bereft of words. <3