Glass-dreamer

As he sat by the side of the hospital bed, looking down at the elderly woman, he had to wonder just how much he had missed out on over his long life.  This frail old woman who, by his reckoning, he hadn't seen in centuries was once the most important thing to him in the entire universe.  She had children, grandchildren, even great grand children, an entirely new family for him to meet and love, a family he had made a solemn promise not to contact. "I like the bow-tie."  He was so lost in his thoughts that even this quiet, cracked voice made him jump. "Very distinguished."  He smiled down at the woman and took her small hand in his.  Behind...