i.

“Don’t leave,” he whispers, ice dripping from one hand to another as cold fingers pull back against warm ones.

“Don’t make this harder on yourself,” his voice breaks, the only indication that this isn’t what he wants.

His fingers slip, falling to his side silently as tears trail down his cheeks. Glossy brown eyes clench shut, not wanting to watch as the love of his life walks away from him for the last time.

Warm fingertips brush against his cheeks, taking away tears with a feather light caress, and then he’s alone with the unspoken promise that it’ll be different next time.