The ongoing sacrifice

They heard the chains click, closing on his hands once again.

"I don't want you to go, don't do this! you don't have to do it for me, I don't want you to" she said, pointlessly. She was helpless, and the deed was already done anyway.
"Don't worry dear, no need to cry for me. I'll come back, like I always do- even sooner! I'll return, a free man, and I will have a gift for you" He said, smiling calmly. He doesn't allow himself to regret, or to show that he does.

He was taken away, by his new owner, to him he willingly gave another part of his life.

He did this many times before, always for the same reason: Her. She has a great potential, both of them knew, but she was weak, fragile, lacking the resources to fulfill herself- and not being able to fulfill herself felt bad. Feels bad. He knows. So he decided to do whatever is unnecessary, in order to get her what she needs. Sometimes she gave him a clear direction, sometimes vague clues. It was sometimes hard for her to decide what is the right move, and she would sometimes change her mind mid-way, begging him to stop, to come back to her. She misses him, when he's not there. But he made his decision. There's a reason they chose their path of action- they saw a result in the end. Something that she needs. And he will get there, and bring her that thing, even if just afterwards he'll have to go again in quest for something else.

And even if it means to sell himself.

To lose himself. To give himself to other people, instead of himself or her. To work his ass off, and sometimes forget what for. To do more than he can, for people who don't know his limits, and don't know their effect on him, and will be meaningless in the future. To get to the state when he can't go on anymore. When she can't go on anymore.

And then, stand up and go on.

She hopes the result will worth it. She doesn't know what it will be. She doesn't know anything, really. He is certain that this will be big, the biggest thing they have ever accomplished. But other than little drops of talent here or there, to make his life easier, or just to let the pressure flow, or to do something at last, she did nothing. It's all him. It will have to be worth it. She will make it worth to him, for everything that he gave away for her.

For him. For them.

And the story goes on. And the slavery goes on. And she keeps on waiting for him to put his chains off, and he is waiting for her to smile for him one genuine smile.

There's a long way to go, and they have just started.