I close my eyes, trying to ignore the darkness that surrounds me, and the empty space beside me in the bed. All I can think of is you. Hugging my sweat soaked sheets to me, I long for daylight, long for the dawn to break and grant me relief. Night is the worst - I think about you all the time, but during the day I have things to distract me. At night I have nothing.

'I love you'
To hear those words from your lips is sheer heaven. I smile softly and gently caress your face. 'I love you too - with all my heart.'
Skin on skin, my bare soul opened up to meet yours in a comforting embrace. Your smile fills me with a happiness I've never known, and can never know again. A single moment captured forever in my heart.

'Close your eyes.'
Your hand covers my eyes, and I can feel you pressed up close behind me. It is all I can do not to turn and bring your lips crushing down onto mine, to take you here and now.
'Where are you taking me?' the suspense is half the fun. I love trying to guess all the tiny little surprises you prepare for me, just as you love the anticipation of getting the million little gifts I am forever bringing you.
'Somewhere special.'
There is something in your tone of voice - something I can't quite place. A shiver runs down my spine and I snuggle closer against you, even as you lead me forward.
'Are you ready?'
The question is whispered in my ear, and I grin. You sound so happy, anticipating my joyful reaction - I know even before I open my eyes that I will love whatever it is you have done for me.
'Always,' I whisper back, pulling your hand from my eyes and kissing it. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the light, but when they do all I can do is gasp.
We are at the top of a cliff, looking out across an ocean sparkling with the fading sun's rays. The white sand below is stained with the red and gold light, and if it weren't for the gently crashing surf, I wouldn't know where the sea ended and the beach began.
'What do you think?' I can hear the smugness in your voice. I turn to face you, tears in my eyes.
'I think you are priceless, and I'm the luckiest person in the entire universe to not only know you, but to love you,' I say quietly, gazing deeply into your eyes. You smile, again making my world seem brighter.
'Believe me, the feeling's mutual.'

'But I hate it! It tastes yucky!' I can't help but grin at the cute pout on your face. You catch my amusement, although I try desperately to hide it.
'Oh, so you think this is funny?!'
I sit on the edge of the bed, medicine in hand. 'No, I just think you look adorable when you're sulking," I say, the grin on my face spreading even further.
You open your mouth to say something, but shut it again.
'What am I supposed to say to that?' you demand, but I can see the twinkle in your eye.
'Say you'll take the medicine,' I say firmly, measuring out a spoonful. You open your mouth to protest yet again, but I interrupt you. 'For me?' I plead.
Your resistance crumbles, and you eventually give in.
'Fine. Let's just get this over with.'
I can't keep the love I feel for you from showing in my eyes, and you see it even as you swallow the medicine. Before I can move you've pulled me down for a deep kiss, gently thrusting your tongue into my mouth. I can taste the medicine you've just taken.
'Urgh!' I cry, breaking away and trying to spit it out. 'Yuck!'
You just grin.
'Told you it was yucky.'

'But you can't leave me!' I cling desperately to your arm, trying to make you see, trying to make you understand. I can't live without you.
'I never will,' there's no mistaking the sadness in your voice, the despair in your posture. 'I will always be here.' Gently you place your hand across my heart.
Tears flow unchecked down my cheeks, but I don't bother wiping them away. How can you do this to me? How can you leave me?
'I thought you loved me?' I almost choke on the question, afraid you'll laugh in my face and call me a gullible fool. Who was I to think you could ever love me?
'Oh God, baby I do!' you pull me to you, and I bury my face in your shoulder. 'I could never stop loving you.'
'Then why are you leaving me?' I sob, trying to grasp why you are abandoning me, at a time when I need you most. I pull back to stare up into your face. Tears slip down your cheeks too.
'I would give the world to stay with you,' you whisper, and my heart shatters into a thousand pieces because I know it to be true.

You took a piece of me with you that day at the airport. Something I can't live without, and something I can't ever get back. I'm nothing without you.
I lay awake, wondering if you think of me, wondering if you feel as empty as I do. Do you treasure every memory like me? Do you spend every second pinning for a chance for us to be together? I can only pray that you feel even a fraction of the pain I feel. Then I would know, that for a time at least, you were mine.