Jem had never had a chance to say a proper goodbye to Tessa.
He knew she would have understood. She would have let him go. She wouldn't have cared about her own broken heart as long as he had the chance of a long life.
However, he hadn't been sure if he could actually have walked if he had to look into her stormy gray eyes.
Tessa just couldn't hide her feelings. Her face was so full of expression that she never had to say a word to make herself understood.
This was the first thing he noticed about her. Even after all these years, after a lifetime of experiences and memories, her face still showed every emotion, every truth.
For the most part, shock and disbelief were evident. But there was also a glint of tears in her eyes.
As he took a step towards her, her gaze fell on his cane. It was the same one he needed when he was seventeen. On the road to healing there was a time when he could walk upright, when he was strong enough to walk without the cane.
For nostalgic reasons, however, he had never had the heart to throw it away. The cane was one of the few possessions that had accompanied him throughout his life in China.
Tessa also came closer. Like him, she made use of a walking stick. Her steps were small and slow, and yet Jem still saw her as she had been. The young, energetic version of her.
She looked him up from head to toe. Standing in front of him, she took the fabric of his robes in her free, trembling hand.
Then she looked up and took his breath away.
For so many years he had imagined the moment when he would finally be able to see her again. And yet nothing had ever struck him as alive as the real moment now.
"Will had always known you would come back."
His friend had never been the optimistic type. Somehow, Jem had always assumed that Will had forwarded the letters the way others visit a grave. And yet he wasn't surprised that he always believed Jem was alive.
God knew he could feel Will as well. For this reason he also knew immediately when the moment had come when Will had passed away.
Half laughing, half crying, he wrapped his hands around Tessa's bony upper arms.
It was impossible for him to stand there without feeling her. He just had to be close to her. The distance between them had always taken such an effort that just contact with her seemed to lighten him twenty pounds. He was able to breathe freely in a way he hadn't been able to for a long time.
"Sorry I wasn't there." Tessa nodded as if she knew exactly what he meant. "I wish I had been there."
Now the tears ran uncontrollably down her cheeks, she released her grip on his robe and wrapped her arms around him.
Tessa had always been so incredibly strong. Strong enough to occasionally seek comfort without appearing weak.
"But you were, Jem. You were always there with him."
He couldn't remember the last time he felt a hug. And though their bodies had changed so dramatically over the years, there was a familiarity to her touch that made his heart pound.
"Nonetheless. We both loved him, we could have mourned together."
Tessa sobbed. "Please tell me this is real. Tell me you're really here. Promise me you won't leave again."
"I didn't intend to."
For now, he would just hold her tight. Then they could talk about the past.
They had time for that.
At least some.