Garden of Sins

“Goodbye, Alayna,” you whisper in my ear and your lips briefly touch my cheek. For a moment, I almost collapse. For a short time, everything tingles inside me and I almost sag against you.

With everything I have, I keep my teeth clenched.

You breathe deeply and I swallow dryly. I ca

ot move now. It feels as if you are actually saying goodbye to me forever, like you’re actually letting me go forever. But even if you do, I will never let go because, for me, you are that one, and maybe one day, you will realize that. Maybe one day you’ll wake up next to another woman and think of me. About what we could have had and how much I loved you. Maybe one day you will feel the same way about me. Maybe, Caden. Maybe not. I don’t know. All I know is that nothing in my life has ever been so hard as standing here when you pull away, turn, and leave without looking at me again.

Downstairs, the door shuts with a soft click behind you.

You leave, Caden, and all of a sudden, it’s as if you were never here, never in my life, never by my side, never on me, never holding my hand, never touching my lips.

When I listen to myself, you’re here. You are in my heart, no matter which side of the country or the world I am on – I carry my heart with me. And no matter how much you want it or not, it is yours, Caden Rush. Irrevocably.