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WILLOW
I get into the car, wondering what Marcus planned for today. He made me get up at four am, so this better be good. Although, after the last date we had, I’m not sure there’s anything he can do that will live up to that night.
When he climbs in on the driver's side, he reaches over for my hand. He brings it to his mouth and presses a kiss to the back of my hand.
I wait for him to start the car, and when he’s driving down the road, I ask, “Why did you always say you weren’t good at the dating thing? So far you’re doing pretty damn good if you ask me.”
He shrugs as he grins at me. “I never dated so I didn’t know if I would be any good at it. You make it easy though.”
When Marcus parks near the ocean, we’re the only people out here this early.
The only crazy people.
We get out of the car, and he takes my hand as we walk toward the stretch of beach. He finds a spot he likes and pulls me down on the sand with him.
He takes something from his pocket before he rests his arms on his knees. I follow his line of sight and stare out over the ocean as the darkness starts to fade.
I’ve never watched the sun rise over the ocean.
“I wrote you a letter,” he whispers.
“You did?”
He holds a piece of paper out to me. I take it and pout.
“It’s too dark to read. The sun needs to rise faster.”
He chuckles as he places an arm around me. He pulls me to his side, and I rest my head on his shoulder.
“Willow,” he whispers.
“Hmm?” I glance up at him.
“I’m sorry I left you. I’m sorry I wasn’t stronger. I’m sorry I got sick just as I realized how much I loved you.”
Oh, my word! Is he’s telling me what he wrote in the letter? I scramble to my knees so I can watch him.
He keeps staring out at the sun rising as he continues, “You deserve the world, and I only gave you hell. I never believed in reincarnation but sure as hell hope it’s real, so I can meet you again and make up for all the hurt I caused you. When I see you for the first time, I will kiss you breathless. I will share my secrets with you. I will make love to you. I regret that most. Never getting to make love to you. You would’ve been the only one. When you meet someone new, make sure he takes your breath away with kisses, and not from hurting you. Make sure he makes love to you because you’re the only one for him. Before you give him the heart that’s mine, make sure he gives you the world.”
I wipe the tear from my cheek as I clutch the now crumpled piece of paper to my chest with my other hand.
Marcus takes a shuddering breath, and as he looks at me, a tear rolls down his cheek.
“Before you, my life was an endless night. You are like a sun rise, Willow. You brought so much color and warmth to my life. Without you, I might as well have died.”
I give up trying to wipe the tears from my face, and just listen to what he’s
saying.
“Your love is one of a kind. You kept coming back even when I was an ass. You have loved me unconditionally. You have put my happiness before your own every single time. That’s why I will cherish your love. Because you love so fiercely, I promise to protect you, even from myself. I promise I will put your happiness before my own. I promise to love you as if we will have no tomorrow. I will love you with every beat of my heart until it stops.”
He smiles at me, then looks at the letter in my hand.
“That letter is my vow to you, Willow. It’s the only proof you will have that I am committed to you. I don’t want us to get married and fall into the false comfort that we no longer have to worry whether we might lose the other person. I want to live every day, knowing that I’m not guaranteed a tomorrow with you. I want that reminder in fifty years because my only fear is regretting that I didn’t try harder, that I didn’t give you everything, that I didn’t love you more.”
Marcus lifts his hand to my face and brushes his knuckles over my cheek.