Finally, they are here. At the moment.

At long last, he is holding her in his arms. Warm, soft, vulnerable, and so, so, so very much his Lily.

Finally, he tells her the words he has been practicing all his college life. And the words left him. Softly, slowly, tenderly, he uttered the three words, eight letters that will free him from his suffering.

"Lily, I love you. Always have always will," James murmured.

" I know, James. I know," Lily replied. "I was afraid to face my feelings, but I am sure now. I love you, too. I love you so much it consumes me. And I was scared, but now I am not."

And no more words were needed. They quietly held on each other, grasping each other like a lifeline. A salvation, an oasis in the desert. After years of running around circling each other, they are here. They finally reached this.

They came to a full circle. And this, this is not the ending; this is the beginning of their story. Finally.