Inevitable

My voice cracked, but it was so far past the point where that would have mattered. “You bastard. You bastard. You left anyway. You're going to do this anyway.”

His hand shook, hesitated, but I'd never witnessed an action that felt as inevitable as when he lifted it to my cheek. I couldn't bear to look at the gentleness on his face.

“It isn't me if I don't.”

I covered his hand with mine. It took me a moment to realize why it was damp.

And I knew I wouldn't try to stop him.