"I think we need to spend some time apart."

These were the last words she had expected to hear when she had come into work that day. Having made herself look extra pretty and wearing her favorite shirt, she came merrily up to her new (at last!) lover. Something seemed a little off in the way William had greeted her. That should have been a sign, but Grell figured William was simply tired as was often the case.

He pulled her aside, "While I have a moment of your time," he said as he took her to a more secluded area. "This is hard for me," he began, fiddling with his glasses. "I have been this a lot of thought…I think we need to spend some time apart." He hadn't even looked her in the eyes as he said this to her. As he pulled her emotions down from he clouds, where she had been since he first told her he loved her.

With all his heart, he had said. Just a few days ago.

"There isn't another woman," he added quickly, "nor have you done anything wrong. It's not your fault," he insisted, but it did not make her feel any better. Another person not wanting her. Another person who had declared their love for her was rejecting her. Someone who had convinced her that his love was true and being so desperate to be loved, just to have someone to hold her, to wake up next to in the morning, to care for her, she believed him. This time was slightly different as he did seem to care for her, but he was still breaking up with her.

"I have some personal issues to deal with and until I get over them, I have no business being in a relationship. We have been trying very physical lately and it just wouldn't be fair to you." Still doesn't help. Doesn't stop the tears. Doesn't stop the reality that she is once again alone. "Could we get together in the future? Most definitely, but right now…" He embraced her. "I need to get over this.

Her voice stuck in her throat. It took several tries for her to say, "I can help you." Or do her best to try to help. He said, "No."

In the future perhaps? What was she to do until then? How long would it take for him to sort out these issues? What if he never got over them? Could he not see how badly she needed him?

"We can still hang out. Be friends," he said.

Idiot.

Doesn't know how hard that would be? To be that near to him and unable to express any affection for him for fear it may drive him away? How cruel.

They parted. He paused briefly to wipe away her tears before returning to his work. He means well, she is certain, but it doesn't lessen the pain as she is left to complete her duties with a dour expression on her face where once had been a smile just moments before.

It may not have been all he said or his words exactly. Nor was it necessarily the right order in which he had said them, but that was more or less what he had said and it haunted her thoughts, always coming to the same question: What was she to do?

Should she wait?