"C'mon, you're smarter than that. You know deep down that's unfair to him," Kora coaxes. "And it's unfair to you, too. Because you deserve to have nice things said to you."

Kora gingerly takes Nimona's hand in hers. Her fingers are rough and calloused from years of pulling rope, but long and elegant all the same, and her hands are as warm as a sunbeam. "The thing in the locket was made by someone who preys on your insecurities to feed on your pain. It's not Ballister. And you know it already. But when you accept it, he goes away, and that scares you. But you know what? It's a lot harder to fall into despair... when you have a safety net under you, waiting to catch you. And you do, Nimona. You are loved. It's safe to let go."