Prompt: "I let myself imagine she was you."
"No," Emma whispered, "Don't say that, don't tell me that." she closed her eyes, trying to ignore the joy that engulfed her chest. The dark thoughts that resided in her mind closed on her heart like a vice.
"Why?" she could hear his anger, his frustration. she knew he was holding back, trying not to burst a verbal beating on her.
Emma opened her eyes and studied his face, this man who had torn down every defense she'd ever built, side stepped every trap she set and bomb she'd dropped. He seemed to accept everything about her, everything she hated…she told herself it wasn't real, it was too good to be real.
"Because if you can replace her so easily, you can do the same to me" the words sounded wrong, as if it was scripted from a cheap soap opera. He glared at her with such fury she took a startled step backwards, "I am in love with you" he forced the words through gritted teeth and took a step towards her, she backed away like a frightened child.
"No you don't" Emma said weakly, trying to back away.
He pursued her like a wild cat stalked its prey. Her back finally hit the wall and he looked down on her as she trembled.
"Please don't do this" she begged, her face felt warm, "I won't be okay if you leave again." He looked into her eyes, his hands cupped her face and his thumbs wiped away the warm tears that flowed freely down her face.
"I promise I won't leave, okay?" the words were so quiet she might have imagined them, he lent down and kissed her softly.
The kiss tasted of salt, and she would have thought it was impossible for someone to speak through a kiss but he could. His kiss spoke of an apology, the frantic nature of his hand in her hair and his arm tight around her waist told her what she meant to him and when she finally gave in and kissed him like she had been wanting to kiss him from the moment she lay eyes on him, Emma knew what he had said was true.
She would make this work, they would make this work. He loved her, and she was willing to forgive everything because she loved him.
she'd loved him from the moment they met and she was terrified that she loved him more than he loved her but in that moment she didn't care, when she kissed him she forgot all her doubts.