Chapter 16 "How could you not tell me, Brian?" she asked as she walked towards him. "There was nothing you could have done. I thought it would be better not to worry you." "I could have gone to the doctor with you," she countered. "If you had known you would have treated me like a sick child. I wanted you to think of someone who was strong and dependable. I didn't want things to change." Brian looked at her eyes as she searched his face. She started to say something but then realized that he was right; she would have treated him differently. "Honey, I'm sorry that you didn't feel like you could come to me with this. I'm so sorry." She started to cry softly. Brian motioned for her to lay down beside him and she did. He, too, had tears in his eyes which Jessica quickly kissed away. "I was just scared," he admitted. "No more secrets?" she asked softly. "I promise," he said with a smile. "Promise you'll always be here with me?" "I promise," she said sealing her words with a sweet kiss. "While we're talking about promises..." he trailed off as he pulled something out from underneath his pillow. "I want to give this to you as a promise ring; my promise to you that I will love you forever." "Brian, I-I don't know if we're ready to get this serious. I mean, this means that you would you be putting everyone you've loved in the past behind you," she pointed out, trying not to hurt his feelings. "I know what you're thinking, Jessica. You're thinking 'does he love me more than he loves Heather?' The answer is 'yes', I do. What I had with Heather was special, but she's gone now and you have my heart now. You always have, even before I met you and that's what scared me when we first met. But I woke up last night, holding you in my arms, and I just listened to you breathe. I could feel your heart beating with mine, and I felt so alive that I almost cried. No one has ever made me feel like that, and no one else ever will." Jessica looked at him with tears in her eyes and he pulled her closer. "Will you accept my love, Jess?" he asked softly. She looked at him fearfully, fully realizing the weight of this commitment. Home Chapter 17 Email me Forever Index