Percy is standing in front of my full-length mirror. He gracefully reaches up and brushes his long bangs out of his eyes. He is humming a repetitive and sort of creepy tune. I close the door behind me, but he doesn't seem to hear the soft click of the latch. He's lost in his own world again, dreaming of something he yearns for. He won't tell me what it is, and it hurts that he'll share his joy with me, but not his sorrow. "Percy," I whisper, but he doesn't hear.

Suddenly he starts singing with such passion and depth that it overwhelms me.

"A new life

What I wouldn't give to have a new life

One thing I have learned as I go through life

Nothing is for free along the way."

I quietly sit down on my bed and listen.

"A new start

That's the thing I need to give me new heart

Half a chance in life to find a new part

Just a simple role that I can play."

"Does this have anything to do with Penelope or the Ministry?" I ask.

He either ignores me or doesn't hear.

"A new hope

Something to convince me to renew hope

A new day

Bright enough to help me find my way

A new chance

One that maybe has a touch of romance

Where can it me? The chance for me?"

If only he knew that I loved him. If only he knew I wanted him to stay at my apartment indefinitely. I begin to stand up, to embrace him, but he starts singing again, and it freezes me in place.

"A new dream

I have one I know that very few dream

I would like to see that overdue dream

Even though it never may come true"

He is crying. Silver tears glint on his cheeks. I want to pick him up and hug him - make him know I love him.

"A new love

Though I know there's no such thing as true love

Even so, oh, how I never know love

Still I feel that one dream is my due"

"Oh, Perce, it was Penelope, wasn't it?" I sigh vowing to hurt her for hurting him.

But again, he doesn't reply.

"A new world

This one thing I want to ask of you world

Once before it's time to say adieu world

One sweet chance to prove the cynics wrong"

I can't take it anymore. I have to hug him. I stand and step behind him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. My muse suddenly awakens and I add a verse to his song.

"A new life

More and more I'm sure as I go through life

Just to play the game and to persue life

Just to share its pleasures and belong

That's what I've been here for all along

Each day's a brand new life!"

He spins around in my arms, his lips just brushing his cheek as he turns.

"Percy, you of all people should know true love," I whisper.

Startled, he looks into my eyes. "Are you saying that you love me, Oliver?"

"That's what I meant to say. Yes"

"Good. Because I love you too," he says, nuzzling his head against my shoulder.

I place a few fingers under his chin and lift his head. We gaze into each other's eyes a moment the lean forward, our bodies aligning perfectly as our lips meet in a kiss of eternal love.