up,” I rebuke, just as stubbornly. “Just because I wasn’t talking about it, didn’t mean I wasn’t thinking about it. I can’t force you to live, but I wanted you to see the impact your decision would have on so many people. You’re a good man, Roman. The world needs you.”
“I should be furious at you, but that doesn’t seem to make a difference.”
I give him the time he needs to process this because I know it’s a lot.
“Be mad at me all you want, but don’t punish yourself. You know this is the end of the line for me. You know this is the right thing to do.”
He hisses, pouncing forward. “Don’t…don’t you say it. There is no right in this situation. There never will be.”
I avert my gaze, suddenly fearful that tonight won’t make a lick of difference. “Life isn’t fair; we both know that. But one of us has a chance at living. Live.” It’s a plea, my last appeal. The fight ebbs from my bones. “You can’t run away from life. I won’t let you.”
He exhales, interlacing his hands behind his neck. “How can I accept this? How can I deal with you…dying?” It’s the first time he’s said it. The first time he’s accepted this.
Everything begins to grow sluggish, but I push on. “By doing this, you’re honoring my life.”
He turns his cheek, pained. “You were supposed to live.”
“I have.”
“You’re twenty-five!” he cries, shaking his head. “Your life has only just begun.”
I’m so tired, so gravely tired. “My life started the day I met you…and it’ll live on in you.”
Roman’s chest shudders, holding back his tears. “I just…I want more time.”
His pleas are my undoing, and a string of sniffs escapes me. “I was given more time…more time to meet you. And it was enough because meeting you was timeless. This was my destiny all along. I don’t want to go…but I have to.”
Roman takes a moment, peering up into the star-filled sky. “I’m stealing yet another life.”
His guilt stabs at my very core. “No, Roman, you’re not.” I know he’s talking about Scarlett. “You told me you would have given her your heart if you could.” He lowers his chin, the moonlight reflecting his sadness. “Well, I feel the same. You are worthy of this life. You’re worth so much more.”
It takes him seconds to process what I said before he falls to his knees, defeated and overcome.
This was the final piece—me.
Placing my palm over his chest, I commit to memory this moment because it’s why I’m here. “Don’t break my heart,” I whisper, blinking past my tears. “Look after it. Take it. It’s yours. It belongs to you. It always has.”
His heart pounds beneath my hand. It gives me strength knowing that soon, my heart will beat for him. He closes his eyes, shaking his head, utterly broken.
“Lola,” he cries, crushing me in his arms. The moment he surrenders, I smile. He may not know it yet, but I know that I’ve won—we both have.
We stay hugging for minutes, Roman never wanting to let go. “I’m not making any promises. For the moment, I’m…undecided.”
“Undecided is better than hell to the fuck no.”
He chuckles at my choice of words.
“I’m still angry with you, but thank you for tonight. Seeing the way the world, the way you see me is just…indescribable. You never cease to amaze me.”
Things grow quiet.
“I didn’t tell you how beautiful you look. How beautiful you are,” he adds, kissing over my pulse. “Will you dance with me?”
Although I’m thankful for the change of pace, I pull back gently, my brows knitted. “Here?”
He nods, his poignant eyes hopeful.
“But there’s no music.”
“Let’s make our own,” he whispers, laying a gentle kiss against my lips, before standing and scooping me into his arms. I snuggle against him, wrapping my arms around his neck.
He begins swaying to an invisible beat, but it’s the perfect tempo, the perfect song. He’s holding me tightly, carrying me as though I’m his most cherished prize. We dance through a soundtrack crafted especially for us. Roman never lets me go. I stay huddled against him, my final dance the best one of my life.
The full moon is our only beacon of light, and under the stars, I get lost in every single memory that led me here. Roman has given me so much to remember, and these memories will tell my story long after I’m gone. I collect each one and fold them deep inside my heart, so whenever Roman