The Concession

Chapter Twenty Four

"I love your glasses, though you still look good without them."

Will stared at her.

"You really think so?"

She nodded.

His heart surged.

"Thanks."

They were walking by the road, side by side. He'd told her he loved her a few days ago but he felt the great need to tell her again.

They got to her apartment but he didn't want to leave. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. The moon was out that night and the sky was so beautiful.

But even the night couldn't dim her beauty. He just couldn't take his eyes off of her.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow?"

He would have work and she would continue her job hunt but he wanted to spend all his free time with her. Anyone could tell that he didn't want to leave yet. He was such a sucker. He'd fallen so fast and so hard—but he couldn't help it, there was just something about Hope that made him feel himself, happy. He wanted that, no needed that.

Plus, his mother was always hounding him about finding someone, now he has, he was sure she would be happy.

He watched her eyes light up like the stars above them and he nearly got lost in their endlessness. Unsuprisingly his heart was already beating more than usual.

"Hope, I—" She cut him off with a kiss. His eyes were wide, he was too shocked to do anything. Hope pulled back before he could say anything and she saw how beet red he'd gotten.

She ducked her head.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have—" But he kissed her back. The kiss was so soft and gentle that it made all thoughts escape him. Suddenly he realized then, that it would only be her. She was the only one that could make him feel this way.

He didn't think he would have had the courage to kiss her if she hadn't done it first. The truth was—he'd never felt this way, about anyone.

William pulled back and he could feel the heat creeping up his neck, Hope didn't look any better.

Hope was floored at the look of pure longing in his eyes.

"Please don't leave." He begged holding her hand.

Her eyes turned sad.

"I didn't want to."

"Then why did you?" His words were heavy with pain and grief.

"You left me, Hope." Watching her say those words in the church that day had shattered him beyond what he could express but he still didn't want to believe Fil's words; he didn't want to believe that he meant nothing to her.

He watched her close her eyes and all he could think about was how her eyelashes looked like butterflies as they fluttered.

He could see her thinking and he waited for her to say something, anything.

"You remember that day you gave your life to Christ, remember how happy you'd been? You believed in God again even after everything, but you didn't confess that one sin, your salvation isn't complete."

William's eyes widened. My salvation?

"That is the hold Fil has over you. Break it and you'll be free. Remember William, there isn't a place that the light can't get to." She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, she lingered.