Los Angeles, Two Years Earlier
Her golden skin glowed in the soft light of the bedside lamp.
And my heart broke.
In a few minutes, I would leave that bed and the warmth of her body against mine.
I would leave her.
It wasn't what I wanted but it was what I had to do.
I had made a promise to myself a long time ago that I would not let feelings and emotions derail me from my path. I believed then that I was better off on my own. That was before the first time I met Hannah.
If anyone could’ve convinced me to change my stance, it was her.
And she almost had.
But I wasn't the man for her.
She deserved someone who would be there when she needed him, who would say I do and build a family with her.
I wasn't that man.
Life had brought us together by chance twice. Maybe there would be a third chance. But I didn’t live with maybes. And after tonight, she would probably never want to see me again.
My heart squeezed in my chest so hard, I choked. If I was doing the right thing, then why did I feel like I was being split in two?
I could hear Nate telling me I was making the biggest mistake of my life.
Maybe I was.
I kissed her shoulder, letting my lips linger, inhaling her sweet scent. I would give anything to make love to her again, to bury myself deep inside of her, to feel her hand pulling at my hair, her fingernails digging in my back, her body writhing and shattering under mine.
I knew that I would always remember her.
Always carry her in my heart.
I got up and dressed quietly in the dark room, my eyes never leaving her form curled on itself on the bed. Her shiny dark hear was fanned on the pillow and I could make out the curve of her spine, the shape of her legs under the sheets.
I took the note I’d written earlier out of my pocket and left it under her phone.
It took everything I had not to take her in my arms and kiss her one last time.
But it was best that I didn’t.
I wasn’t good with goodbyes and I was weak enough to recant on my promise if she begged me to stay. Because she was the only one who could make me stay.
I took one last look at her.
“Goodbye, my love. My forever love.”
(c) 2024 Celline Chancelier. All Rights Reserved.
