Page 90 of Unbearable

There’s a moment where she watches me, as though she’s remembering something, or maybe nothing at all. I’m not sure and I can’t tell because I’m more caught up in the fact that she still wants me.

“I’m sorry,” she says suddenly crying into her hands, the tears returning. “I’m so sorry. I should have done something to stop you from leaving that night.”

Taking her hand in mine, I bring it to my lips. “Hey, don’t be. None of this is your fault. You weren’t the one who didn’t take his seizure medication and then made a complete ass out of himself.”

A smile tugs at her lips. “You’re right. That wasn’t me.Jesus, what kind of asshole does something like that?”

“A big one.” My laugh shakes through me, causing me to wince while a gnawing pain spreads through my head at the onset.

“What now, then?” she asks finally, clicking the button for the nurse when she notices I’m in pain. Turning to look me directly in the eyes, her expression of heartache and remorse mirror my own. We don’t speak, just stare at each other.

“We take it slow like you want and I’ll try to be patient.”

Tears stream down her reddened cheeks and I quickly wipe her tears away and pull her into my arms, the best I can at least which is a sideways hug.

“Raven,” I say, waiting for her eyes to meet mine when I draw back from her embrace. “This may not be the time or the place to tell you this…” my heart thuds louder and then steadies out into a rapid rhythm, “but I love you, and I’m not going anywhere. I’m sorry for the things I said to you. I had no right to accuse you of anything and treat you that way. I’ll wait for however long you need me to. I don’t know what I can offer you, but I’ll give you what I can.”

“We—” She starts to say something but stops.

I panic at what her reaction to my words will be and add, “This. Whatever we have is worth waiting for,” I say, reaching for her hands. “I loveyou.” I blink, nerves taking over.

She nods, slowly, as if she’s letting the words sink in. And then she surprises me by saying, “I love you, too, Tyler.”

My face spreads into the warm smile. Here I am, lying in a hospital bed in front of the girl I love, and for some reason I might never understand, she actually loves me back.

I still remember the girl who sat in my truck one snowy night, big brown eyes watching me with curiosity as I asked her age, wishing somehow she would have been older. Maybe I knew all along there was something between Raven and me that could only be ignored for so long before it changed.

All my uncertainty of her not wanting a life with me seems silly now. She showed up for me, waited for me, and now I will wait for her.

Looking at her now, why did I ever have fear?

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