Christine, I love you...

And then I paused.

My intent had been to simply hand him the ring and be done with it. I wanted out. Of what, I was not sure, but I wanted out. I was tired of living my life in halves; half darkness, half light. Half love, half hate. Half joy, and half unspeakable sorrow. If you had asked me what I wanted, I would not have said Raoul. What I wanted was security, a blanket from the tempestuous storm that had so recently wrought my existence apart.

What I did not want was to walk headfirst into that very storm. Regardless, that is what I did. For when I pressed the shimmering ring lovingly into his hopeful hand, I whispered three life-changing words.

I will return.