I own nothing but the words.


The rain fell hard, sleeking down her shoulders as she stripped off her coat. She allowed herself the indulgence of a single tear, the first she'd really allowed since he left. As it slipped down her cheek, plummeted off her chin, and was lost among the earth beneath her feet she realized that one small drop made things invariably worse. Letting the pain fall that way, feeling the overwhelming emotion that caused this tear was too much. She just needed to hear his voice again.

She took another unsteady step, teetering nearer to the tree towering above her. The leaves were the color of autumn and their beauty served as a curtain between her and the horror she felt compelled to inflict on herself. She ran her fingertips across the length of a low branch, feeling the rugged bark against her skin. Had the bark felt so rough against his skin when he'd run his fingers across it? Or had its soft, organic nature merely caved beneath his strong fingers. No sense in wondering. Another step and she cleared the trees, eyes set on the edge of the cliff. Soon, she'd be like her tear, plummeting from heights and joining trillions of little drops of water. One last, deep breath.

It took four long strides to reach the edge of the cliff. She saw him then; he was telling her not to do it. She ignored his warning, bit down on her lip and lifted her foot as if to make her next move. Before she could move another inch, before she could even process the hand wrapping around her slender wrist, she was whirling violently, her face buried in the heat of a bare chest. His woodsy scent surrounded her.