Rain began to fall softly, as he gazed around the room. She stood silently in one corner. Her luggage sat beside her. She was wearing the perfume he insisted her to use.
"I don't want to confront you," she said. "I was about to leave this letter when you came."
He looked at her. Then, he looked towards their bed. The covers were neatly tucked, just the way he wanted it. He looked back at her. "Are you going somewhere?" he slowly asked.
She nodded. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She couldn't understand the feelings rushing through her.
"Would you like me to accompany you?" he asked.
"No, I can go by myself, " she said.
"I'll drive you to the bus stop," he insisted.
"No!" she told him.
"To the airport then?"
She shook her head.
"Why not?" he demanded.
"Because I don't even know where I'm going."
"You're leaving me?!" It was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes," she answered uncomfortably.
"Why?" he asked.
"I don't know," she said. They sounded stupid to her. This was not the conversation she pictured out to be. She was hoping that he'd beg her to stay. Instead, he was asking her questions she couldn't even answer herself.
"Is this some kind of a joke?" he asked a little annoyed. "Are you having one of your moments?"
"I'm not!" she quipped. "I just can't find words to express what I'm feeling right now."
"Try me," he challenged. "Or better yet, why don't you read the letter you prepared."
"I don't have to," she said.
"I've given you everything you wanted, everything you need - everything!" he said silently.
"I didn't ask for it," she said indignantly.
"I just assumed that-" he started to say.
"You assumed," she cut him off. "You always decide for me. You didn't-not for once-give me the chance to decide on my own. I'm losing me with you."
"I thought you wanted it," he said.
"You thought!" she cried.
"I have to do it. I might lose you..." he said softly.
"You're about to lose me. All you can think of is yourself. I find it selfish," she said.
He dug his foot on the carpet. She knew he was nervous. All of a sudden he changed. Gone was the sure-of-himself guy. What stood in front of her was the vulnerable boy she once knew.
"You can do it your own way from now on. Just stay, please..." he pleaded.
She avoided his eyes. She knew that if she met his gaze, she would stay. She loved him so much. "I can't!" she answered.
"Where are you going to stay?" he asked.
"I don't think I have to tell you," she said.
"Will you call me?" he asked shyly.
"Probably!" she said.
"Take care of yourself," he told her.
"Thank you," she said and turned to leave, "goodbye!"
"Bye," she heard him say, "I love you!"
She looked back at him. He looked down and raised his arm in a wave. She was torn between the right thing her mind instructed and what her heart claimed as the right thing to do.
"I'll be back in a couple of weeks," she said. They smiled at each other.
He ran to catch up with her. They walked outside the house hand in hand. When she comes back, a new beginning would welcome both of them.
"Will you marry me- when you get back?" he asked.
"As soon as I get back here," she said happily.
"Give me a ring wherever you may be," he said.
"I'll visit my folks," she said.
"I'll wait," he said as he hailed down a cab. He opened the passenger door for her. "Do you love me?" he asked doubtfully.
"Once," she said as he frowned. "And always!"
Both of them smiled.
Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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