Of everyone in Heaven and Hell, she was the one I needed more than anything.

And I'd betrayed her.

I bit down the sob.

That night. That night she'd been with me.

I'd nearly said the word. Oh, I'd thrown it out before, as a joke, or as a simple affectionate little saying when we were together.

But that night I'd very nearly let slip that I loved her.

The word that would tie me to her and her to me even if she never said it back to me.

I sometimes almost thought I saw something in her eyes when she watched me.

And she'd... said that other word...