“I need to write this, Doctor, and you’re the only person on this station who will understand… Indulge me, if you will; I need you as a witness. A stitch in time…” - Elim Garak
These lines are from the first chapter of A Stitch In Time, a novel written by Elim Garak’s actor, Andrew J. Robinson. The story is in the form of a letter to Doctor Julian Bashir. It includes Garak’s struggles to help rebuild Cardassia, insight into events on Deep Space 9, and the unveiling of his shrouded past. The book is currently out of print with copies circulating bidding sites, but it has been made into a digital e-book format for purchase here.
What I love about this is how he introduces it with this sort of contrition about how they “needed” to grow apart, but ends up contradicting himself later, by making it clear that his story is deeply connected to his relationship with Julian and that story is still unfinished. (Also the point about “when we’re afraid to learn something new about ourselves” – suggesting there’s potential to continue if they can get over that fear.) That sort of double-speak is so very Garak, and yet the way it journeys from a lie to the truth is so achingly vulnerable, something he rarely lets himself be with anyone – but when does, it’s usually Julian. This statement is why I really do believe that their story (both individually and together) isn’t finished at the end of DS9, and love seeing fanfiction writers continue that relationship and the story in it.