I Couldn’t Get The Words Exactly Right;

The Waves Of Pain That Had Only Lapped At Me Before Now Reared High Up And Washed Over My Head, Pulling Me Under. I Did Not Resurface.

There Are No Rules That Can Bind You When You Find Your Other Half.

Our Relationship Couldn't Continue To Balance, As It Did, On The Point Of A Knife. We Would Fall Off One Edge Or The Other, Depending Entirely Upon His Decision, Or His Instincts. My Decision Was Made, Made Before I'd Ever Consciously Chosen, And I Was Committed To Seeing It Through. Because There Was Nothing More Terrifying To Me, More Excruciating, Than The Thought Of Turning Away From Him. It Was An Impossibility.

No, I Had Never Intentionally Caused Anyone Physical Pain, But I Had Hurt Ian Deeply Enough Just By Hurting Myself. Human Lives Were So Impossibly Tangled. What A Mess.

Is It Really Sick For Me To Be Happy Right Now?" I Asked. My Voice Broke Twice. He Didn't Push Me Away. He Pulled Me Tight Against His Ice-hard Chest, So Tight It Was Hard To Breathe, Even With My Lungs Securely Intact. "i Know Exactly What You Mean," He Whispered. "but We Have Lot Of Reasons To Be Happy. For One, We're Alive." "yes," I Agreed. "that's A Good One." "and Together," He Breathed. His Breath Was So Sweet It Made My Head Swim.