"Come away with me," he whispers against my bare shoulder and goose bumps spread across my body.
I stare into those deep, soulful eyes of his framed with laughter lines and in them I see only myself.
"Come away with me," he repeats and moves towards the door.
These are all words I have heard before.
I hesitate.
My body freezes in place as I mentally recall every blow, every tear and every sacrifice ever made and try to weigh the chances of how much more my heart can break before it is ruined; not broken.
His eyes are dancing as he circles me; prey to his predator and he's telling me things I have only ever dreamed of hearing, I am feeling things I was not sure I could ever feel again.
He sees my hesitation, my fear and uncertainty and gets on one knee, heart on his sleeve and offers everything he has left, everything he has now become in front of me.
"I love you," he whispers and that admission nearly shatters my resolve.
Those three words are bullets; aimed right at my heart, lodging themselves in places I can never reach.
Still, I do not move.
Finally, he gets up and leaves his heart beside me, leaving himself vulnerable, open, scared; everything I know he cannot stand being. He is giving me what kills him to give and what I cannot live without.
I weigh my options again and finally tuck his heart inside my chest; joining it with mine, keeping it safe forever.
