I pull away from her hug and hold her head up with my hands until she is looking right at me.

“Can you forgive me?” I repeat.

“Yes, Bernard, yes, I can. I’m so sorry for the last couple of days!” She hugs me again, making me smile.

“Well, that’s good to hear,” I say, full of joy.

“I love you Faith, with all my heart, and I always will. You are the only girl for me.” I say, gently brushing my hand over her tear-stained cheek.

Her face goes blank, distant. But why? She loves me back, doesn’t she? She’s – she’s probably just really happy…I hope. But I don’t want to find out.

As she goes to talk, I cut her off, “I should be going. I feel wierd in the same close as yesterday.” Lame excuse!

As I stand, Faith does too. I turn to her, her face still distant, though she is staring at me pleadingly. Suddendly my eyes filled with tears and I don’t know why. I dive in to a hug, hard and true.

The scary part is, she holds me the same…as though this is the last hug I would get.