Lion Head Mesa And scratch the slate

Happy, but not free. He danced around the latter subject, but it was clear. 

Maegi had always resented being put into a box. She'd champed at the bit early, spread her wings before they were fully fledged. Strained against each and every constraint and shackle placed against her. Pushed away others and curled inward. Not anything that would make a good fellahin. 

Free, but not happy.

I've never been happy, she replied simply. It wasn't true, not really. But her life, taken as an aggregate. . .

But I'm here.

She shrugged, feeling the breeze lift the drying hairs upon her nape.