“I just love you.” he whispered shakily. “I love you s-so much. It, it’s not bad of you to-to tell me when bad things happen. S-so I can be there and, and help you pick up the pieces and try to help you as best I can… y-you should have told me…” Jack said quietly. “A-all I can do is help with what happens after, I’m. I’m good for that… p-please don’t go. Please don’t leave.”
God it’s almost as if he could hear what her heart and mind had been feeling about leaving.
“I’m going to l-look after you as best I can. For as long as I can. F-for as hard as I can. Because you d-do make me feel strong, Katelynn… y-you make me feel like I could walk up to these p-people and tell them to leave you alone e-even if I know they wouldn’t listen to me. B-because you give me the strength to do it…” Jack pulled back, and caressed her uninjured cheek, eyes half lid, still red. “All I can do is love you, Katelynn. That’s what I can do.”
Despite it all, despite everything he still wanted to love her. He didn’t want her to leave. It brought a spark back into her heart, bringing it back from the dead as it beat in her chest for him.
He loved her. He wasn’t mad. He didn’t want her to go.
“J-Jack…your love is all I want..all I need..I swear..oh god..I swear it is..! You don’t need to be like anyone else but yourself! If you were anyone else I don’t think I would have loved you like I do..I can’t love anyone else ever! You’re the only one in my heart! The only one I need. My family..my only family.”
She moved into his chest, holding onto him tightly, head nuzzled in his neck. “I..I’ll try harder to stay safe..God…I want to try so hard so you won’t worry. I’ll tell you from now on if anything happens. I’m sorry..I’m sorry for lying earlier..”
“I-it’s okay. It’s okay. A new relationship will, will always have bumps. But it’s the strongest one that g-get through them despite them all. I’m still here… a-and you’re still here… you’re all…. all I want, Katelynn and I don’t care if people are saying we’re going too fast or that we’re being silly but I really c-can’t see my heart loving anyone but you for the r-rest of my life…”
His arms are around her, holding her close, his eyes shut as he feels her against him. Her warmth, her heart, her whole being did so much to him. Not just his body, but his soul, his heart, his mind. Nobody else had ever touched him in such a way as she had in such a short time. His parents had tried doctors, head shrinks, group therapy to help him out of his shell but all it had taken was a long haired, beautiful, young woman to hold her hand out to him and ask him to come with her.
And he had.
By God he was grateful he did.
“…K-Katelynn…?”
Jack Maple 