#x167

As she lay in the soft morning light, she let three words roll around her head. They almost sounded like a chant, repeating over and over. Quietly, she turned to face him - he had not woken yet. Her face flushed and her heart thrummed at the thought of saying those three words to him. She wondered what his reaction might be. It scared her.

She watched as he opened his eyes and smiled. He turned, rose from the bed and dressed quickly and silently. As he walked out the door, only then could she summon up the courage to say the three words to the empty room.

“Please… don’t leave,” she whispered.