ishand."Anddoyouknowwhattheanswerwas?TheanswerwasthatIwawothings.First,Iwantyou.Iwantus.IloveyouandIalwayshave."

    Shetookadeepbreathbefoingon.

    "ButIalsoyendingwithouthurtinganyone.AndIknowthatifIstayed,peoplewouldbehurt.EspeciallyLon.IwasntlyioldyouthatIlovehim.Hedoesntmakemefeelthesamewayyoudo,butIcareforhim,andthiswouldntbefairtohim.Butstayingherewouldalsohurtmyfamilyandfriends.IwouldbebetrayingeveryoneIknow.IdontknowifIdothat."

    "Youtliveyourlifeforotherpeople.Youvegottodowhatsrightforyou,evenifithurtssomepeopleyoulove."

    "Iknow,"shesaid,"butnomatterwhatIchooseIhavetolivewithit.Forever.Ihavetobeabletogoforwardandnotlookbaymore.youuandthat?"

    Heshookhisheadandtriedtokeephisvoicesteady."Notreally.Notifitmeanslosingyou.Itdothatagain."

    Shedidntsayanythingbutloweredherhead.Noahwenton:"Couldyoureallyleavemewithoutlookingback?"

    Shebitherlipassheanswered.Hervoicewasbeginningtocrack."Idontknow.Probablynot."

    "WouldthatbefairtoLon?"

    Shedidntanswerrightaway.Insteadshestood,wipedherfadwalkedtotheedgeoftheporchwheresheleanedagainstthepost.Shecrossedherarmsandwatchedthewaterbeforeansweringquietly."No."

    "Itdoesnthavetobelikethis,Allie,"hesaid."Wereadultsnow,wehavethechoicewedidnthavebefore.Weremeanttobetogether.Wealwayshavebeen."

    Hewalkedtohersideandputhishandonhershoulder."Idontwanttolivethere