Chapter 3
Daniel
Fifty-two days after
One day I came over to her room. We decided to lie down on the couch together. When we did, she wrapped herself around me. "I'm never letteeng you go," she said.
I smiled down at her. I kissed her on the forehead and said, "Good. I wouldn't want you to." I held her closer. "It feels so great to have someone who feels the same way about me as I feel about them. It's just so rare for me, so precious."
I held her there as she held me, the two of us working a miracle, neither losing nor gaining anything, but having each other. And that was all we would ever need. She was so warm, filling up the cold emptiness that had surrounded me for so long.
"You know, when I lie alone sometimes, I speak your name," I said. "Every time your name crosses my lips, it's pure magic. I just can't believe how perfect you are, how miraculous your love is. I imagine that I'm with you, lying here just like this." I look into her eyes again. "This is all I've ever wanted. And I still can't thank you enough for it."
She smiled at me; a reward in and of itself. "You don't need to thank me. Eet's a gift for me too."
Lara
Ninety-four days after
We took a picture together. To remind us of our love whenever we were apart. Not that we needed much reminding, but it was still more than just a gesture.
In the picture we're holding each other, smiling and loving each other like we always do. I look at his eyes and see the light that I first spotted when we met, when he pulled me out of the depths and into this wonderful dream I'm in now. I look at his smile and I see the compassion and love that he has for me.
Then I look at myself in the picture. And because of him I'm able to see how beautiful I am to him. I see how much he adores me, and I can start to believe that I really can be loved. Miracles can happen, and we work them for each other.