her for who she is on the inside and not the curves she boasts physically. Without Ever, however, her battles persist silently and without release. She finds herself needing Cade, his companionship a result of a tragedy she never could have anticipated. When days turn into weeks and then months, they become closer over time, relying on each other to dull the throbbing pain of their shattered hearts. Lines once clearly drawn begin to blur.

“I put my hand on her back, in the center, right over her spine, and held her as she cried. I closed my eyes and stared up at the ceiling, but I saw anyway the curvature of her spine as she bent into my awkward, one-armed hug. The intimacy was disconcerting, right and wrongSOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - The leaders of Russia and Turkey on Wednesday publicly re-affirmed their commitment to working together to end the conflict in Syria, despite a gas attack on a Syrian city that tested their fragile alliance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan during a meeting in Sochi, Russia. Sputnik/Alexei Nikolsky/Kremlin via REUTERS

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan, both subject to mounting criticism from Western governments over their rights records, have formed a pact on Syria despite backing rival sides in the civil conflict there.

They met on Wednesday in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, their first meeting since a deadly April 4 chemical attack on the Syrian city of Khan Sheikhoun.

Erdogan at the time blamed