her remedy

10

He stares down at the sidewalk below us with a fearful expression. "Are you alright? You look terrified." I say to him.

"I'm fine." He says too quickly, making it obvious that something is wrong.

I stop walking and take his hand. "Simon."

"Adele." He responds, unsure of where this is going.

"What's wrong?"

I wrap my coat tighter around me as he says, "Nothing, I'm just..."

"Just?" I ask him when he pauses.

His expression changes from scared to sorrowful. "A little sad."

"Why, baby?" I ask him in a gentle tone.

"I'll tell you about it later, I don't want to distract us from this night."

I nod, content with that answer.

We walk through the park together, holding each other's hand and kissing every chance we get. The weather is getting colder as the holidays get closer and it's a perfect beginning to this time of year.

I can't help but wonder why he feels sad. Am I not making him happy anymore? Am I just another relationship that will lead him to his real forever after?

We walk back to the car in a comfortable silence as I consider what would happen if I asked him if he wholeheartedly loved me. Would he admit that he doesn't love me as much as I love him?

As uncertain as I am, I know one thing for sure: if we broke up, I would be more lost and afraid that I've ever been before.

*

When Simon pulls into my driveway, he takes my hand and looks into my eyes. Making eye contact with him always makes my heart go faster.

"I need to tell you about some news I received earlier today." He says.

"Is it good or bad?"

He just shakes his head. "I don't really know."

My heart goes even faster, but not for the right reasons.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I have to go to Chicago for three months for a big charity project."

"Well what's wrong with that?"

"I can't bring you with me."

"Why not?"

"I'm not going to be able to spend time with you at all, only when I would come back to the hotel to sleep. It's a really important project that I just can't miss."

"Of course not, I would never ask you to do that." I say, redirecting my gaze from his eyes to the car window.
"When are you leaving?" I ask him after a few seconds.

"Three days from now." He says very quietly.

I swallow down the ocean of emotions. "And when are you coming back?"