"Do you think about the future much? Like where you will be… what you'll be doing?"

"Nah, I live in the moment."

"Sounds nice. I mean, it must be nice."

"Most times. But… hey, don't let it fool you… I think about the future more than I want to."

"Do you like what you see?"

"Sure. You are there, so how could I not?"

/ / /

I finally looked up and the eraser was in my hand, wiping out the mistakes and the missteps.

One, two, three… and the board was black again, blank and waiting for new lessons.

Whatever words we wrote – they are memories now… some good and some bad… whatever words we used to be – they are gone.

And you believed it would end, because you built yourself to fail.

Like you always do.

But I said I'd take care of you, too.

I said that and I meant it.

/ / /

"Shh, keep on sleeping…"

"…You're late."

"Yea, they keep messing up the mixing on this demo. It's what I get for working with amateurs."

"Hmmm."

"And I didn't get anything to eat, so I am starving."

"There's some kind of pasta… something in there…"

"I can survive. Just need you, that's all."

/ / /

I gave up, too.

I gave up and I gave in and I tried to flee – you, a storm and me, the townsfolk… I tried to outrun you and your destruction.

I didn't want to be laid to rest by your pain. I didn't want to drown in your sorrow.

But when I expected less, you gave me more.

More and more, until I couldn't leave – I had to stay.

I had to see you and hold you and have you again. And I caught your smile. And I witnessed your joy.

And I fell in love with you like we had never hurt one another.

And maybe we never really did.

Not really.

/ / /

"Are we really doing this?"

"Yea… yea, I think so…"

"Really?"

"Yes. Really… are you having second thoughts?"

"I am having a million thoughts right now."

"Me too."

"But… I love you."

"I know you do."

"…Say it back."

"But the music is starting—"

"Before we get out there, say it back… just to me, just for me…"

"Spencer Carlin, I love you… always have, always will…"

"I know."

/ / /

Somewhere between the first day I met you and the last day of my life, I found you – all of you, the real you, the hidden you – and even when you tried to lose me, I still found you.

And you are dreaming, so soundly, by my side and in this bed.

It is too early for you. It is too early for me, but I am awake and you are wrapped around me.

Soon it'll be coffee and birds and traffic and newspapers and work and life and things and stuff…

…But right now it is you and I.

Just you and I.

Just you, Ashley Davies, just you and the girl who adores you.

And I can't imagine my future any other way.

/ / /

::END::