Final chapter - Thank you for all the reviews.
They sat in the dark, looking out over the river, listening to the traffic and the water and the people passing by.
"I still meant what I said," Ruth stated simply, "I would do the same thing again."
Harry nodded.
"And I am fine," this time she said it, it was softer.
"I know," he answered.
"But I'm sure you have a point that it may prove to have more of an impact than I thought."
"I would like nothing more than to be wrong, Ruth."
Their whole conversation was addressed to the river, sat side by side, eyes forward, on their bench.
"Perhaps it would feel different if I'd had to do it for someone else," she said thoughtfully, "someone … less important."
"I really don't think my standing has anything –"
"To me, Harry," she interrupted, "Less important… to me."
It hung in the air between them. Another of their concessions, their admissions, that were, for them, as lyrical as the grandest of declarations.
Minutes passed by.
"Harry…?
"Yes."
"Do you think that at some point, whenever might feel right … that the next time we happen to be 'with' someone…sleep with someone…that it might possibly be with each other rather than a complete stranger?"
Harry smiled a soft smile.
"I think I could cope with that Ruth."
She nodded, she still hadn't looked at him.
"Me too," she whispered.
And then her hand stole across the bench and slipped beneath his.