She washed her face in the washroom sink to rid it of the redness that her tears have induced. They once again had another fight, this time over an all-important decision that she must make. Here was her dream and it was within her reach. And there he was, just about to slip away like water through her hands. He's just concerned for me, she has said over and over to herself, in the hopes that she would convince her already doubting conscience. He needs me, she told herself, drying her face with kleenex. He doesn't have anybody else but me and I will not leave him out on a limb. It would not be the right thing to do.

She once again looked at herself in the mirror. Dark circles hung under her eyes from nights of sleeplessness. She has mulled over this issue for the past how many weeks, imagining countless scenarios of what may be the repercussions of her decision. What she wanted to accomplish was for her future, what he wanted was for the two of them. It was always like that. She was always the one giving, and he was always the one taking. Between the two of them, he was always the needier one, and she was always the one who seemed like she had more left over to give.

She turned the tap on again and rinsed her face; one last rinse to cool down the burning she felt. She was always the one who had more to give, she knew. She could live without this important decision, but she could not imagine life without him. Being with him was more important than anything else she had now, and it was something she could not bring herself to let go of. And he needed her now, more than ever. He could not live without her, he had told her countless times, over and over. She could not hurt him, much less leave him. She was the only one who could save him from himself.

Grabbing another piece of kleenex, she once again dried her face. She knew what she had to do. Her dream had to make way for something that was more tangible, for something that was already there and will always be there for her. Throwing the piece of damp tissue into the waste basket, she straightened herself and gave herself one last look in the mirror, her mind made up. Maybe they won't understand, she told herself, but I have made my decision and I plan be happy with it. Dreams, I guess, must eventually make way for true love.

With that, she left the bathroom and closed the door behind her, knowing that in exchange for her dream, she will receive an embrace full of love.