UNTITLED

"Can't you see it?" I asked her.

"It's not THAT easy Andrew..." Dawn exclaimed. She always called me by my full first name at times like this, otherwise, she just calls me Andy like everyone else.

"You....you know it's not right though. You can feel it, you see it... Dawn, you've told me about it yourself." I argue with her.

"Andrew please... Just stop, okay?" She says to me as tears start to form in her eyes.

I sit next to her and place my arm around her. "Dawn... I won't fight with you if you really think nothing's wrong..."

She stays silent other than the sniffling that often comes with her tears.

"Alright. Then, listen to me for a minute, okay?" I say, sympathy and persuasion lining my words.

"Ah--Alright." She stifles.

"I've made more mistakes in my life than I can count, so very many, and for all the mistakes I have... None do I regret more than the day I hurt you..." I studdered on that last line, so, I take a deep breath to hault my own tears, and continue, "There is no way I could ever even hope to make it up to you--"

Dawn cuts me off, "Andy don't! Just... Just don't...." Tears streaming down her cheeks. I know just the thought of that day kills her, as it does myself, so I try something else.

I wipe a tear from her cheek and hold her just a little tighter. "Alright Dawn, alright," I say, barely louder than a whisper, "Dawn, tell me..." I sigh.

"Tell you what?" She asks, looking a little concerned, even though she was the one crying. She always seemed to care more about others well-being than her own, and not to be conceited, but, it always looked to me as if I was one of her main concerns.

I draw in another breath and carry on with what I was saying, "Dawn, who treated you better? Strike that, who treated you right, him or me?"

"Y--You..." She mutters.

"And who was and is always here for you when you need them, him or me?"

"You..." The tears have started to settle in her eyes.

"And Dawn, most importantly, who do you feel happier with, him oh--or me?" I choked the last words out, afraid of the answer.

"You Andy, it's always been you..." A very slight smile rises at the corner of her lips.

"Then..." Gulp, "Then isn't the answer clear?" I ask with hesitation.

"Andy?" Dawn looks up at me, the tears of sadness dwindling.

"Yes?" I reply, unsure of what she'll say next.

Dawn looks me in the eye and a smile appears as the words leave her lips, "I love you."

Tears escape my eyes and a smile rushes to my mouth, "I love you too Dawn." I put my other arm around her and hold her close, "I've always loved you and always will."

"Andy..." She whispers as we embrace, "Promise me something."

"Anything," I whisper back.

"Promise me--Promise me that you will never let me go." She starts to cry again.

"I cross my heart," I pull my right hand from around her and write an 'X' over my heart, "That I will never let you go."

She smiles, tears of joy falling onto her cheeks. I pull her close and kiss the top of her head as she rests it against my chest.

"Never again Dawn, never again."