That was a lie; Severus knew exactly why. She had been his angel and the only beautiful thing in his life. She was intrinsically good and had loved him wholeheartedly. She was everything he wished he could have known and been in his life. She made him want to be a better man. She made him want to live again.
---
At the beginning, it seemed like no other newlywed couple could have felt as they had. Those little giddy moments had been absolutely intoxicating.
When she confronted him the first time, he had sincerely been unaware.
When she found his hidden stash, he had begged her to give him another chance. He wouldn't be his father.
When she packed her belongings and left, he didn't have to hide it anymore.
Severus took another swig out of the bottle of Firewhiskey and settled himself down at the kitchen table. After all, he had always been the type to embrace his demons.
-FIN