"Oh, no, Tom!" Marie exclaimed but her voice faltered. She was at the verge of crying again.

"May I ask you why?" Tom pleaded.

Marie wanted to cry but she could not. And she wouldn't. Because Tom was by her side. He was her strength. That feeling alone gave her strength, too. Instead of tears, her silence prevailed.

"Let me just say my piece," he persisted.

She nodded.

Tom moved to her side and held her hand. "I fell in love with you ever since that first sunset we watched together. I never asked you then why you were crying. And I won't ask you now. I miss you each day. Every day seems so short that it slips off just like drifting sands. Every sunset we've seen seemed only a minute. I want to be with you. Always . . ." His voice was sincere and soothing.

"But, Tom . . ." She never gained the effort to say the truth.