When There Is Nothing Left But Love

I nodded and pointed towards the hugging couple. I teased, “You’ve never told me about your past relationships.”

I paused as Rebecca abruptly came to mind. He did say that he had never loved Rebecca.

As we made our way through the crowds, he stuck closer to me and replied, “I didn’t date when I was younger.”

Shocked by his reply, I stared at him in disbelief. “No! You’re pulling my leg, right?”

“Back then, I was swamped with classes and essays every day. Grandpa also arranged for me to take extra law classes, so I basically didn’t have time for anything else.”

His explanation seems pretty reasonable. Pouting, I continued to prod him for an answer. “Didn’t you have any crushes then?”

His eyes bored into mine as he replied, “I had a crush on you the moment I saw you at J University.”

Stunned, I began to blush furiously.

We continued walking at a leisurely pace. Suddenly he asked, “Don’t you have questions for me?”

“What questions?” Confused, I stared back at him.

“A few days ago, Flora told me that there was a lipstick mark on my shirt. Why aren’t you asking me about it?”

though I quickly recovered myself and said,

could see that my answer had stunned him into silence. He appeared to be deep in thought, though I didn’t have the mental energy to try and guess what

I waved goodbye to him and didn’t follow him in. I gestured for him to

but stood there, staring at me.

him. I felt a twinge of regret at our somewhat anti-climactic

towards him, giving him a tight hug.

puzzled at my behavior. “What’s wrong? You don’t want to

with my arms wrapped firmly around him. “I just want

you stay here with me then? We can head home together later

arms. I straightened out his tie with a small smile on my

no longer afford. This is

initially thought of taking a plane, but eventually decided

journey’s going to be tedious, but I’ll get

my phone, knowing it would be

handy now when I can’t

leaving without saying goodbye. I thought I’d recovered after returning from R Province. I thought I could stay by your side and have a happy life with you. But I should’ve known the world would be much more complicated than I imagined. I paused in the middle of typing, struck by a painful reminder. Cuts and bruises may heal over time, but they leave behind scars that will never allow us to forget the

myself, I continued the message: I got myself checked at the hospital. The doctors confirmed that I can never become pregnant again. That stillborn baby cost me my dreams of bearing my own child. I can’t blame you, nor can I blame Cameron. You

of a mother am I to give my baby such a painful fate? Maybe he was too eager to be my child and forgot to bring along some things with him in his rush. He fought so hard to meet me, yet I couldn’t save him in the end. Ashton, I hope you can forgive me for leaving

could help us find peace, but I’ve come to realize that the only thing we gain in return is suffering. I don’t want

a fast speed. Pristine views of the countryside