Walking down a hill toward the pond, I spotted Kiera sitting on a bench. Her back was to me, and she was looking down, but even still—my breath caught, and my heart started pounding. God, she’s beautiful. God, I’ve missed her. Had she felt just a fraction of what I’d felt during these last couple of months? Had every day been a little bit of a struggle for her, like it had been for me? She told me she missed me all the time, but was the air thinner when I was gone, was the world muted, were the good times a little sad, and were the bad times especially devastating…like they were for me without her around? Did she really miss me? Or was that just something that was said to be comforting, and her life…it hadn’t really changed all that much? She was trying to not need a man anymore after all. Maybe she didn’t. Maybe she was finally okay being alone. Maybe she didn’t need me. Will she stay with me if she doesn’t need me?

Stop. Just…stop. She loves you, and she’s right in front of you. That’s all that matters right now.

The doubt and sadness evaporated as I let that fact settle inside me. She’s here, she’s mine. Kiera still hadn’t sensed me as I continued walking down the hill. It amused me that she hadn’t. Her thoughts must be a million miles away. Thoughts of me? I hoped so. I paused by a large tree at the base of the hill. I was only a few feet away from her now, but in her blind spot. There was a light post on the other side of her, and bathed in the edge of its glow, I could see her clearly. Her full lips were in a slight pout as she stared at her phone. The snow was falling on her, around her, her cheeks were rosy, her dark hair darker…she was breathtaking, and for a moment, I was struck still and silent, helpless to do anything but gaze at her.

How did someone like me end up here, with that beautiful, intoxicating, warm, wonderful woman in love with him? Why did it still feel so surreal?

Careful to not make a sound, I lowered my bag to the ground and pulled out my cell phone. Kiera was frowning. Was she upset I was late? Getting a taxi had taken a lot longer than I’d expected. I knew seeing me would make her smile. But first, I couldn’t resist teasing her. It had been too long. And it was especially hard to resist considering the fact that I was right behind her; she really should have sensed me by now. She should have much better spatial awareness if she was going to sit in a park at night.