"You cannot marry him, Mary," said Marshall, his voice quiet and his expression somber. A hint of desperation could be seen in his eyes. The whole picture was lit only by a small lamp on his desk, which he sat behind and she stood over.
"And just why the heck not?" she demanded in her usual harsh tone. She leaned forward and planted her hands on his desk. He exhaled sharply in surprise and exhilaration, an action which seemed to escape her notice.
Taking a deep breath, he quickly and solidly said his piece, his eyes never leaving hers. "Because I love you." Her mouth fell open slightly in shock, and he was relieved to see her eyes soften a tad. "I'm so sorry to have to tell you. And I don't want to do anything to make you unhappy. But I had to tell you, Mary, because you can't marry him without knowing that I love you." His eyes dropped at once, not daring to check her reaction to his declaration.
Curiosity – and an overwhelming need just to look at her again – soon got the better of him, and he chanced meeting her gaze. It may have been his imagination, but her eyes seemed to shine in the low light, as though brimming with tears. She closed her mouth, swallowed hard, and straightened up. Without a word to her partner, she turned and strode out of the office.
He watched her go, feeling his own eyes begin to glass over, and when she had gone he sighed. He might have been about to lose her forever, but at least she knew.