• It was in the way he looked at her in the uncomfortable silence. It was the ever preset foreboding feeling of loss. There was the promise of forever. That promise still glistened in their eyes. Anyone around them saw it. The energy of love still swept through them like a tidal wave crashing against the shore. To stay would be a mistake there has been too many arguments, too many things said without thinking, but to leave seemed to be the end of the dream. A romantic dream nonetheless. Did the love truly fade and die? Will either of them find a way to be whole again? Confusion set in, dismay that this was the preverbal fork in the road. Oh! HELL! What to do?
    They stood there within feet of each other, but it felt like miles. She stared at him blankly not wanting to comprehend what he just said. Tears welled up in her eyes, she looking down. "You promised me." She told herself in a whisper. "You said we were forever. How dare you stand before me excusing yourself?"

    She turned to go. He grabbed her arm lightly nearly brushing it. She hesitated and stopped. He turned her around and gently pulled her face up with his finger. He wanted to look deep into her eyes and feel her soul. This impasse was just too exhausting. She kept her eyes closed, clinched tightly so no tears would escape, but a tear started to fall down her check leaving a wet stream for another to follow.

    He didn't want to hurt her anymore. He wanted to take back his confessional apology. He didn't want this silence. Surely she would understand. It was a mistake. Misspoken words with anger attached to each one.

    She shuttered with his touch. Gathering her nerve she stared at him intently. She longed for the pain to end and the confusion to be over. She had to make a decision. Frustration over took her. She fought back the wanting need to lash out. She longed for him to hold her and tell her things will be okay. Her thoughts were a clutter of emotion which pulled at all her weaknesses. How could she be strong now?

    The brief hesitation consumed him. What should he do? Pull her into him, professioning love and devotion… promising yet again he'd be better, knowing deep down he would fail again? He didn't want to confuse her. He didn't want to hurt her anymore. She said it was over. She had told him their trust was lost. She wasn't sure she believed her own words. So many times she had made errors in judgment. Was this another error?

    She allowed their hands to dangle and sway for a brief moment. She held his hand firmly squeezing it tightly three times; that was their signal saying "I love you". He responded with the unspoken words. She loosened her grip, slowly turning to walk away with their eyes locked on each other's. Their hand embraced turned to fingers touching as she moved farther away. Then only the tips of their fingers remained touching. Time seemed to have stopped for that brief moment. That was when she turn her whole body to go.

    He stood there as their hands created a void. He had hoped she would turn around one last time, showing him there was still a chance. She walked casually away shaking in her core, completely unsure of the future, of everything. She fought the want to look once more.

    He glanced down at the dirt beneath him profoundly sorry. Tears started to form, but he is a man, he can't cry. He can't show those emotions. He wiped his eyes, clinching them tightly. Fighting with all the emotions he was too afraid to show. As he fought, he never noticed she looked back for just a second, turned again and began to sob.

    They never spoke or saw each other again.