Tessa's vision was blurry and her breathing was as unsteady as was Will's. She could feel the heat radiating from his back, just inches from hers, their heels brushing each time one of them shifted uncomfortably on the bed. Her face was damp from crying, her eyes were tired, her body was weak and exhausted. She sucked in a shuddering breath, trying to steel her nerves, to harden the walls that she had been reluctantly forced to build around her heart. Tessa allowed her eyes to flutter closed, but she knew she wouldn't fall asleep. She couldn't, not with Will beside her, not with him so close - and yet so far. All Tessa had to do was turn and place her hand on his shoulder, but he was still untouchable. She could caress his cheek with the tips of her fingers, but he was still unreachable. He was gone from her, as she was gone from him - forever.

Behind her, Will exhaled slowly, his voice thrumming only slightly. She recognized that sound; he'd come to some sort of acceptance of what they'd agreed upon. Tessa stilled, waiting impatiently for him to speak to her. The bed rocked softly as Will sat up, but he was silent. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes again, and Tessa tried desperately to keep them away. She had to be strong. She loved this boy, and she knew that he loved her. It was because of their feelings for one another that they were doing this. It was the right decision - but even logic couldn't restrict the sense of drowning Tessa felt as she thought of her life without Will, of the absolute hopelessness that tugged and broke the strings of her heart as she realized that he would never belong to her.

Will's arms snaked around Tessa's waist and lifted her into a sitting position. His sudden proximity was startling and dangerous, shaking her thoughts and destroying the foundation of the boundaries precariously held up around her. He turned her gently to him, and his dark blue eyes were shining brightly, but with despair. She knew that he was on the verge of crying, and Tessa quickly bit her lip in the hopes that the pain would keep her emotions in check. Blood dribbled onto her tongue, but the physical pain was nothing in comparison to the emotional.

Will pressed his face into the crook of Tessa's neck and placed light, soft kisses like butterflies across her collarbone. Tessa squeezed her trembling fingers into fists, a wounded cry escaping her lips. He pulled away and stared stonily at her, his eyes searching hers. For what, precisely, Tessa hadn't the slightest idea. His bottom lip trembled, and then he closed the space between them. Will's mouth burned like fire against hers. "This is the last time," he whispered, "I'll ever ask you." Dimly, Tessa realized how wounded he sounded. She shivered beneath his touch, craving to pull him closer but knowing that she couldn't. "Do you love me?"

She didn't hesitate. "Yes. I always will." In response, Will kissed Tessa again with a fierceness she wasn't entirely familiar with. She gasped into his mouth, and then suddenly he pulled away and walked out the door without another word. Tessa hung her head, staring at her gloved hands. "Goodbye," she murmured.