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“That’s how love works. It hits you right between the eyes before you ever see it coming.”
“I don’t know if I’ve told you this recently, or ever before for that matter, but I truly do not know what I would do without you in my life.”
“Yeah. I know.” She smiles. “I guess Iampretty great.” By her tone I can tell she’s teasing me.
“I mean it, Claire. You kept me going when even getting out of bed felt impossible. And you never gave up on me. When everyone said I should be moving on, you understood that I wasn’t ready. You’ve never pushed me unless I needed to be pushed. I just want you to know how much you mean to me.”
“You mean a lot to me too.” She bumps her shoulder into mine.
“When I knocked on your door for the first time almost four years ago, I never imagined this is where we would end up.” I relax back into the couch.
“Despite the loss that brought us together, I’m grateful to have you in my life.”
“Man, we’re really getting sappy here.” I try to lighten the moment.
“Hey, you started it.”
I think about that for a moment and realize she’s right. “I’ll give you that.”
“So,” she lets a few beats of silence pass between us. “What are you going to do? About Peyton?”
“I want to be with her.” I believe each word as it leaves my mouth because it’s true. Idowant to be with her. “But in order to give her everything she deserves, I have to let go. I have to say goodbye. I have to set her free.” My eyes drift to the urn resting on the fireplace mantel.
“It’s time, Abel. You know it is.” Her gaze drifts to where mine is now locked. “I can go with you if you want.”
“No.” I shake my head, my focus going back to Claire. “I need to do this on my own.”
