It's a hard thing to accept defeat and move on, and that's a symptom of the human condition, of being a living entity, really. Another, much harder instance is the instance of grief humans experience when they lose one they love, one they value above all else. Grief is so hard and so adaptable that....there's no one way to feel better. What works for one person fails for another.

     Grief is a hurdle that comes with life, and meshes directly with death. In other words, you don't get to be a living being without feeling the weight of it, crushing or otherwise...oddly elusive, at least once in your existence brief or meandering. Sometimes an individual is given more than they are due or not enough and go through life either with too much weight or not enough.

     It's a funny thing, sometimes making you feel so alone that you may drown in nothing, and at other times bringing an odd bitter smile to one's face. Just like love or hate, grief has no solid shape or form, and is generally able to fill the holes left by the absence of others.

     Grief is important, because if anything, this tale is made up of grief and regrets, stolen moments of happiness and love amid turmoil. Your tale, begins as they usually do in space-time with an explosion.

An: A few quick things. Most of the people will refer to you as Shepard because that's how it is in the game. Thane will use your name because you are going to romance him. This will contain spoilers for ME 2 and 3. Secondly, this my way of coping with my ME3 grief so you don't have to like it, but I'd be thrilled if you did. If there were others still in the fandom out and about. Thirdly, there will be quite a bit of religion given that Thane is a devout man. Last, this is just a taste. I will return when I have finished Me3. It might take a while, but I'll be back.