"Did you mean it?"
What?
Her voice was much more forceful than I was anticipating.
Shock - at her question, from the strength behind her words - rendered me speechless.
She clarified, "When you said you'd never leave again. Did you mean it."
There was something there in the tone.
This was her obstinate voice.
Stubbornness that she wore like a crown when she thought I was going to be difficult.
Ink black eyes locked onto hers.
Finally, something I could be sure of.
"More than anything."
That response, my absolute certainty, only seemed to paint her doubt more colorfully.
Shit.