Concern still etched into his countenance, Alex sat, defeated, back down on the sofa. Chloe was staring into the screen almost lifelessly. It was like the Chloe from the day of the court case was back. She was silent and hollow.

For a few minutes Alex face the television and faked polite interest in the movie. But he couldn’t honestly ignore his… companion’s suffering for very long. Very gently, I pushed himself closer to Chloe and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. His other arm reached for an afghan on the back of the couch. He shook the blanket and tossed it over her folded legs.

She made no move to shrug him off and said nothing in response to his own wordless gesture. Alex thought about what he needed to say to bring her back.

He began, “Hi there, Chloe.”

Alex waited.

“I know you’re in there somewhere,” he coaxed.

“I want you to know that my idea of happiness is just being with you for as long as you’ll let me.”

Chloe’s eyes closed, damming up the tears.

“Chloe, I love you.”