She called him hours later with her voice thick from her tears. “Why! Why did you leave me! What did I do!!??” she yelled at him. Tears welled in his eyes as well but he fought them down.

“You know the problems we faced, Sweety….” His voice trailed off.

“I don’t care! I love you! I’ll do anything to make it better, just come home!” she moaned, sobs nearly making it impossible for her to breathe.

“It’s not that.” He began, “You know I love you too…and that’s why. Us being together would only cause you more pain and I can’t be the reason for you to be miserable.”

Something like a no came from the other end and then it went dead.

He pulled the car over and cleaned the tears off his face. He tossed his cell onto the other seat and let the pain over take him again. He missed her like he would miss his arm…but he had to do this. It was what was best for his beloved…

He put the car in drive and eased back onto the road, turning the radio up as loud as his ears could take it, but the pain remained