The Interview

Be With Me

Patrick's POV

"In that interview, did you mean it when you said that you still love me?" I heard THE question and I wasn't sure if I heard it correctly. Was she asking me if I still love her? Or is she just being curious about the interview? What does she mean by it? As I was thinking what to say, we both realized it took me too much time to make my response believable and true. 

I looked at her and I could see in her eyes that she'd lost even the last hope. She was hurt, alone, desperate, full of emotions she was afraid to show and accept. But so was I. We were both hurt and we both needed healing. And the only way to heal ourselves from this was to accept the fact there's no place for games, only for fair play... so I decided to play fair.

I cleared my throat. "I hated you. For everything you've done. For the way you've hurt me." I took a deep breath. "But... I promised to one remarkable woman that... that I will love her even when I hate her." I smiled as I remembered the scene. I dared to put my hand on her cheek and caress her soft skin a little as I was afraid she would break. "And when I make a promise, I never break it." I made one more step to her and she broke. She broke all the wall she's built these past years, she was slightly crying, silently, she put her forehead against my chest and I kissed the top of her head. I took her right hand with my free hand, the other in her hair. I closed my eyes myself and I felt peace. Peace in my mind and my heart.

"I do love you." I heard my voice saying those words I haven't said in a very long time as I was waiting for the right woman and the right time. I heard my voice trying to form the words I was so sure about. I heard my voice cracking, full of emotions. 

I embraced her fully in my arms and I never wanted to leave her, not again. I felt like nothing else mattered, only me and her. She wrapped her arms around me and buried completely her face in my chest as I hid my nose in her hair, enjoying her presence.

"I love you, too." I heard her saying in a half whisper. I smiled against her head. I couldn't believe it. It was like two teenagers, first texting, then finally meeting after so long time. But this is my girl and me. Us.

"El, I never want you to leave me again. And I promise you I will never leave you, I'll be always by your side... to protect you, to remind you how amazing and beautiful you are. You are precious to me. Just please... be with me."