"That is entirely how I feel," Anatoly agreed fervently, gesturing with his glass. "After everything, it has been more than wonderful to sit here or on the beach with my chess board and be allowed to focus only on that. I don't think I shall ever grow tired of enjoying this feeling."

It wasn't completely all sunshine and roses, of course. For all that he was glad to be able to play chess as long as he wished, he was still very much aware of what he had left behind. He missed his children terribly, and while he hadn't truly been in love with his wife for years, he wasn't so heartless as not to worry about her and how much she had suffered because of his actions.

Logically, he knew there was nothing he could do for them while he was here, but he couldn't help but feel guilty at times.