I Need You

Holding his hand close to her heart, Theresa sighs as she looks into Ethan's eyes hovering over her face. No one expected an earthquake and tsunami to hit the small town of Harmony, Maine. Everywhere around them, chaos ensued. The hospital was crowded, and Theresa had no idea what the status of her house was, or for that matter, the status of her children.

"I'm scared, Ethan." She said, closing her eyes to the pain shooting through her mid section.

"I know, Theresa. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere." Ethan said, closing his hand firmly around Theresa's hand.

"Promise me you won't leave me alone, Ethan. Promise me." Theresa said drowsily.

Looking into her mocha brown eyes, Ethan sighed. "I won't leave you, Theresa."

Smiling slightly, Theresa looked at the only man she loved, and expressed her heart felt emotion. "I love you very much, Ethan."

Closing his eyes to the emotions running through him, Ethan caressed Theresa's face softly. "I love you, too."

"Thank you for staying with me."

There's no where I'd rather be, Theresa. Hearing that thought in his mind, Ethan shook his head slightly. No, I can't think that. I'm married to Gwen. My life is with her now.

Clearing his throat, Ethan said, "Well, honestly, there was a time before we were going to be rescued that I -- I didn't know if you were going to make it, you know?"

Nodding carefully, Theresa opened her eyes again to look at the only man she loved. "Well, I had no choice but to make it. Little ethan and jane need me."

"I know they do. They need their mommy forever."

Holding his hand tightly, Theresa sighed. "You need me too, Ethan. You just don't know it."

I know it more than you know, Theresa. "Let's not go there right now, okay? You need to save your strength to get better."

Shaking her head, Theresa looks at Ethan again, willing him to see into her soul. "You love me, Ethan, and I know there's a part of you that thinks one day we will be together."

Closing his eyes, Ethan feels the heaviness of his wedding band on his left hand, and opens his eyes to stare at Theresa. "I'm not going to lie to you. Yes, I do, I love you very much, but we've been through this a million times, Theresa. Nothing's changed. You know I'm married, and I'm not going to leave her." Looking down at his wedding band, Ethan sighs, "I can't and I won't do it."

"I don't want…I don't want to argue right now, Ethan, I'm getting tired.."

"It's the medication they gave you to relax. Don't fight it, Theresa, just let it take you to sleep. You'll feel better when you wake up."

Sleepily, Theresa yawns. "You'll be here with me. I know you will." With that, Theresa gives up her fight to stay awake, and falls into a deep sleep.

Watching her sleep, Ethan caresses her face gently. "I wish that we could be together, Theresa, but circumstances won't allow that. We have to keep our love locked up in our hearts forever. I do love you. I do. I love you so much, it hurts. But, Gwen is my wife until death do us part. Maybe in another time, maybe in another place we'll be together. Until then, you need to take care of yourself. You have to stay strong for Little Ethan and Jane. They need you."

Kissing her hand one last time, Ethan gets up, and begins to find his way back to the mansion.

Coming up

Theresa dreams of a future with Ethan