"Why?" Elpis asked simply. There was no mocking in her tone, no anger. She reached for another cookie and began excavating candied walnuts. "You won't help with the ugly parts, so I don't think it's good for you to know about 'em. The only thing you really, really need to know is that I'm going to make things better."
Her smile was suddenly unsheathed, an uncharacteristically bold curve. "I've got an idea--well, actually, I had this idea years ago but was too scared to really, really think it. Now, I'm not. Scared." She paused, touching her own temple as if in wonder. "It's a very, very strange thing to be suddenly without a feeling you've had for a very, very long time."