I just stood there, taking him in. I knew what was coming, we both did, but somehow it didn't make it any easier. It was so simple and had been staring us in the face for months, he would leave and I would let him. It was the only way.
I took a tentative step towards him, finding the light in his eyes, that connection that had been there from the moment we met. He looked at me and I saw it all, the guilt that weighed on him. He was searching for something in my face and I nodded. He was asking permission. Permission to break my heart, permission to walk away and do what he had to do. I gave it to him, I never had a choice. He didn't need that guilt, not for what he was about to do.
He stepped forward and wrapped me in a tight embrace. I think we both knew that if we tried to speak one of us would break. With a final kiss on my forehead he walked towards the door. I steeled myself against looking after him, against finding his eyes again when he made a final look back towards me. I could hold it together until he was gone, that was my burden, and he would not carry my pain around...
Dean Winchester had enough pain of his own.
That was 5 years ago, the last time I saw the love of my life, until today.
