When I slammed the door, I hit my head against it. As mad as I had been, as hurt and depressed- it was nothing compared to how I felt when I looked at his face. As his eyes met mine, it was as if the entire world had disappeared. All I could focus on was him and his eyes. (Although this was normal for me, his expression was definitely not). They were entirely black, not even a hint of sparkle in them. Dull and lifeless, they were…the eyes of a dead person. As though he was secretly trying to show me what he would be like without me. My heart nearly broke at the thought of him existing as such a person. I knew then what I needed to do. I needed to go out there and tell him- "I love you. With everything I am…" I stopped with my hand on the door, stunned. He said it. He really does love me and wants my forgiveness. I took a deep breath and turned the handle.
I swung the door open wide so I could look at him. We stared at each other for a second, I took a step forward and then collapsed in his arms. "L- I'm so sorry for this. I…I couldn't help-" He hugged me tighter into him. "I know, Taiya. It was my fault. I was too afraid of rejection and commitment that I almost lost you." He leaned his head down so he was now speaking into my hair, right above my ear. "I have lost too many loved ones and I could not stand to lose the most precious one of all." He stopped, his attention turned toward the motion of my shoulders. He tilted my head up and frowned sadly when he saw the tears running down my face. "Oh, Taiya. I didn't realize…I'm so sorry I made you think of her. I cannot bear to see you cry. Here, let me help." He proceeded to wipe the tears off my face, and I smiled. He was so kind and gentle. Why did I ever think he could be capable of such awful things? I grabbed his hand and held it to my face. "No, it wasn't that. It was just that I wish you could have met her. She really would have liked you, L."