stofmylifethinkingaboutyouanddreamingofwhatmighthavebeen.Staywithme,Allie."

    Tearsbegantofillhereyes."IdontknowifI,"shefinallywhispered.

    "You.Allie...Itlivemylifehappilyknowingyourewithsomeoneelse.Thatwouldkillapartofme.Whatwehaveisrare.Itstoobeautifultojustthrowitaway."

    Shedidntrespond.Afteramomelyturowardhim,tookherhands,andstaredather,williolookathim.Alliefinallyfacedhimwithmoisteyes.Afteralongsilenoahbrushedthetearsfromhercheekswithhisfingers,alookoftendernessonhisface.Hisvoicecaughtashesawwhathereyesweretellinghim.

    "Yourenotgoingtostay,areyou?"Hesmiledweakly."Youwantto,butyout."

    "Oh,Noah,"shesaidasthetearsbeganagain,"pleasetrytouand"

    Heshookhisheadtostopher."Iknowwhatyouretryingtosay-Iseeitinyoureyes.ButIdontwanttouandit,Allie.Idontwantittoendthisway.Idontwantittoendatall.Butifyouleave,webothknowwellneverseeeachain."

    SheleaohimaocryharderasNoahfoughtbackhisowntears.

    Heedhisarmsaroundher.

    "Allie,Itforceyoutostaywithme.Butnomatterpensinmylife,Illneverfettheselastcoupleofdayswithyou.Ivebeendreamingaboutthisforyears."

    Hekissedhergently,andtheyembracedastheyhadwhenshefirstgotoutofhercartwodaysago.FinallyAllielethimgoandwipedhertears.

    "Ihavetogetmythings,Noah."

    Hedidntgoihher.Insteadhesatdownintherocker,spechedhergointothehouseandlistehesoundofhermovementsfadedintonothing.

    Sheemergedfromthehouse