Page 78 of Buzzer Beater

“That, plus more.”

He nodded. “What else?”

“I’ll be on medication for the rest of my life. That won’t change, unless there’s a breakthrough in thyroid research.”

“Okay.”

“Sometimes I’m tired. So exhausted, and for no reason. There are days that I’m not up for going out or even running errands.”

He nodded. “That’s fine. I understand.”

“I get headaches too. Not as frequently as before, but sometimes I just have to lie down in a dark room undisturbed.”

“We’ll buy blackout curtains.”

I winced. “Stop trying to fix everything.”

“I want you to be happy. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you comfortable.”

“Those are the minor things. There’s something else, a consequence of the conditions I have.” I wished I could stall forever.

He didn’t say anything, just sat with an unwavering stare.

“There’s a very, very slim chance…” I paused and looked at the ceiling. The tears were back. I couldn’t say it. This would be it. He’d leave me and move on, and I’d be stuck alone with my broken body.

“Chance of what?”

Tears streamed down my face and fell on my chest. “That I can get pregnant and carry full term.”

He sat back on his heels and sighed.

I waited for him to say something, anything. For him to come up with a quick solution. I wanted him to tell me it was okay and that this didn’t change anything.

“Colin?”

He blinked and met my eyes. “This is why you can’t be with me? Why you said we don’t have a future?”

I nodded.

“You really think I would leave you over this?”

I closed my eyes squeezing out the tears that blurred him. “I know how important having children is to you. I didn’t want to take that away from you.”

“So, you planned to leave first.” He nodded and stood up. I thought he was going to sit next to me, but he began pacing the room.

“I didn’t want you to have to choose.”

He let out a sad laugh.

“You deserve someone that can give you everything,” I added. It made me nervous, watching him pace like a restless tiger.

He was silent for another moment before facing me. “How many times do I have to say it, Lucy? I love you. All of you. Your problems, your flaws, your accomplishments, your dreams, your body, your mind. I love it all. That means every problem that comes up. Every disappointment and every joy. I want it all. I want to face it all with you.”

“Even if I can’t—”

“Even if everything comes burning down. There’s nothing, absolutely nothing, that could change my mind.” He cut me off and strode across the room toward me. He offered his hands, pulling me to my feet before him. “Do you believe me?”

I didn’t understand it. I couldn't fathom how anyone could love me like that, but when I thought about him, I felt the same way. There was nothing that could make me love him less.