This was just amazing. You really have a gift with words, dreaminghour. D

It's a very beautiful story, and original; thank you.

I really hope you will write more in this fandom.

You had me at Cavafy. I recently moved across the ocean and could bring very few books. The Collected Poems was the only work of fiction that came along and it was sent to me originally by a friend in Athens. SO. You HAD ME at Cavafy.

Let me a get a couple nitpicky things out of the way first. Some of the formatting is confusing. The bit where Charles offers the apple, for instance. There is text missing and/or the formatting is off. I wasn't certain why Charles had to explain what it was. There are a couple of other instances like that, but they aren't very important.

What is important is the quality and tone of this fic. Both are practically perfect. There is a stiffness to the entire fic that reminds me very much of the formality of the time and space your story takes place in. That was amazing and, I hope, intended. This formality lends itself well to the sort of world Cavafy inhabited, too. I loved how cerebral this fic is. The whole thing seemed to make love to my brain. (laugh)

The prose is also excellent! The prose is poetic, the dialogue is crisp, and though the word count is high, you never seemed to write anything that didn't need to be said. There is no filler here. Everything has a place. Your self-control is perfect. Also, matching the verse with the fic was a complete success.

This is a wonderful fic and it goes right on my favorite list. And, with any luck, perhaps I will remember this fic every time I read 'Long Ago'. I'm sure I will reread this many times in the future, too. Thank you for posting it!

You, my friend are a truly brilliant writer. You describe your scenes so vividly that even a boring office comes to life. None of your characters are stereotypes, something I always find quite impressive. Even your secretary got that "glazed look" in her eye on the thought of marriage and Mr. Halliday, for all his professionalism and coldness was someone we can sympathize with. This kind of characterization comes only from genuine talent and nothing else.

And your main characters: you portrayed the tension between Charles and Erik perfectly, even escalated it a little to add to the doctor/patient relationship. And at first I was hesitant to read on thinking that the sessions would be the same old boring "shrink therapy" kind with long empty words, but not only did your descriptions compelled me to read on but you delighted me with the variety and exquisiteness of the therapy sessions. None of the questions Charles asks were stereotypes and you stayed clear of the whole heart to heart thing. Not that I don't like that, but then I don't think these guys would handle such a situation that way, they'll just handle it exactly the way you wrote)So kudos to you for your excellent characterization again!:P

Also I'm downright impressed and completely smitten with your use of C.P. Cavafy's Comes To Rest, its one of my all time favorites and it does sit on both these boys perfectly. Also it's refreshing to see someone appreciate Literature for once...:)

I apologize for the huge review, but it's entirely your fault. Your story did leave me overwhelmed, and then I just had to pour it all out...:D You should definitely write more for this fandom, you have an excellent grasp on the relationship between the characters and the characters themselves, and I know I'm repeating myself, but you are an amazing writer.

Hoping to read more from you soon! :)

- Har33m.