1The silence is deafening now, because she is gone. He felt her absence in every step he took, because she isn't by his side. The sadness, the loneliness, presses down on him, all because she walked away. And he let her.
It shouldn't be like this. Happiness should have come easier them. It was his fault. He was afraid. So afraid of what might happen if he let his guard down that he shut her out. And then she was gone.
Here, in this place that was filled with memories, he wanted to immerse herself in anything that was her. He wanted to see her, touch her, smell her, to do anything to make the pain stop. He would give anything just to be numb again.
His hand was in his pocket now. It brushed against something he had forgotten was there. He pulled it out. The ring. This ring he had meant for someone else, but somehow, he had placed it on her finger. It was hers. Always hers, and only hers.
He wrapped his fingers around it and closed his eyes. He imagined that moment, he was down on one knee again, and he breathed her name, just once. "Brooke."
When he opened his eyes again, she was there. She stood in front of him, her beauty radiating into everything around her. He knew she wasn't real, she couldn't be, but he didn't care. He needed her.
He reached out and took a tentative step toward her, terrified that she would disappear again. She gave him a gentle smile that made his heart soar. That smile had gotten him through things he wouldn't have been able to otherwise.
She was closer now. He could touch her if he tried. This time it was she that reached out. Her hand touched his and she brought it to her cheek. He stared at her, not daring to believe this was happening. "You..." he whispered.
She smiled again, and leaned closer. "I'm here..." she brushed her lips against his. "...to stay."