When There Is Nothing Left But Love

“Scarlett, you’ve been asleep for two days,” the soft voice said. “Please wake up!”

I wanted to say something and to open my eyes, but I did not succeed.

I felt something moist inside my bone-dry mouth. After some time, my face and limbs were being cleaned gently by a damp towel.

I couldn’t help but fall back asleep again due to my extreme fatigue.

My dreams were incomprehensible and confusing. The next time I opened my eyes, my surroundings were clearer to me than they were though I was still feeling groggy.

Ashton slumped over my bed as he was asleep. His hair looked rather greasy as though he hadn’t showered in days.

“Ashton!” I croaked. My voice was hoarse but I was surprised that I managed to say that.

I smiled at the realization that I was still alive. It feels so good to be alive!

At the sound of his name, Ashton straightened himself up. He looked haggard and unkempt. I reached out to caress his face and felt a cluster of tiny beards poking out of his chin.

I chuckled. “Haven’t I just shaved for you? They’ve grown back.”

tightly and gaze at me with his deep dark eyes. He did not speak for a long time; his

he said with a choking voice after a

nodded with a smile as

so good to see you!” I tugged

tightly. He poured me a glass and made sure I finished it. “You’ll

moister. “If I could fit you in my pocket, I’ll get to see you every day,” I said, wasting no time in teasing him as soon as I got my voice

my mischief. “You’re in a playful mood. It’s good to see you back to your old

and it was tighter than before. I felt squished into his

The entire spectrum of emotions surged through me and I felt lucky

in this life, I will never leave him again. He was all I could think about during the few minutes in the freezer. As I approached death, even the rhythm of my pulse had chided me for taking his love for me for granted, and that I should not push him

my good fortune to have met

whispered as I held his

and hugged me again. There was an unspeakable joy behind his wearied

I said. Since the day we met, over our marriage spanning a decade, I have never told him this. If I didn’t say it now, I didn’t know when I would be able to

going to have any regrets on my

nodded and planted a kiss on

smiled again, just feeling grateful for

came with it, the incidents of that night suddenly returned to haunt me. “What happened that day I went