The Things We Do for Love

"I love you, too. " He leaned forward, pulled her into his arms.

She was the first to pull back. He took her hand, squeezed it.

"This is the end for us. " She said it softly. Each word hurt to say out loud. She wanted him to laugh, to take her in his arms and say, No way.

Instead, he started to cry.

She felt the burning in her own eyes. She longed to take it back, tell him she hadnt meant it, but shed grown up now and she knew better. Some dreams simply slipped out of your hands. The worst part was that they might have made it, might have loved each other forever, if she hadnt gotten pregnant.

She wondered how long it would hurt to love him. She hoped it was a wound that one day healed itself, leaving only the palest silver mark behind. "I want you to go to Stanford and forget about all of this. "

"Im sorry," he said, crying so hard she knew hed take the out she offered. And though that knowledge hurt, it saved her, too, almost made her smile. Some sacrifices had to be made for love.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pink piece of paper. "Here," he said, offering it to her.

She frowned. The paper felt whisper thin between her fingers. "Its the title to your car. "

"I want you to have it. "

She could barely see him through her tears. "Oh, David, no. "

"Its all I have. "

She would remember this moment for all of her life. No matter what, she would always know that hed loved her. She handed him back the pink slip. "Kiss me, Speed Racer," she whispered, knowing it would be the last time.

THE MINUTE ANGIE PASSED THE NURSES STATION, SHE knew.

"Mrs. Malone?" one of the nurses said. "Ms. Connelly would like to speak with you. "

Angie pulled away from Conlan and ran. Her sandals snapped on the linoleum floor, sounding obscenely loud. She shoved the door open so hard it cracked against the wall.

Laurens bed was empty.

She sagged against the doorframe. A part of her had known this was coming, had been waiting for it, but that didnt make it any easier. "Shes gone," she said when Conlan came up beside her.

They stood there in the doorway, holding hands, staring at the perfectly made bed. The scent of flowers lingered in the room. It was the only evidence that last night a girl had been here.

"Mrs. Malone?"

She turned slowly, expecting to see the plump face of the hospitals chaplain. He was the first person whod shown up in Angies room when Sophia died.

But it was Ms. Connelly, the woman whod been appointed guardian ad litem. "She left about an hour ago. " The woman glanced down. "With her son. "

Angie had expected that, too. Still the pain came fast and sharp. "I see. "

"She left you a letter. And one for David. "

"Thank you," she said, taking the envelopes.

The guardian said, "Im sorry," and walked away.

Angie looked down at the stark white envelope. The name--Angie Malone--was scrawled across the front. Her hands were shaking as she took it, opened it.

Dear Angie,

I never should have held him. [Here shed scratched something out. ] All my life Ive been looking for a family and now that I have one, I cant walk out on him. Im sorry.

I wish I were strong enough to tell you this in person. But I cant. I can only pray that someday you and Conlan will forgive me.