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“Please don't leave me.”

I bury my face in his chest. “I love you.” My voice breaks. “I love you so much.”

His arms wrap around me instantly, and for one impossible second I'm home again. I can feel his warmth, the familiar strength of his arms around me, his breath against my hair.

It feels real.

He's real.

“I love you too,” he whispers.

I break.

“But I gotta go.”

“No.”

His hand comes to my face, his thumb brushing away my tears the way it always used to.

“Vita...”

His voice is barely above a whisper.

“You promised me.”

I know exactly what he means.

I shake my head so hard it hurts. “I can't.”

“You can.”

Fresh tears spill down my cheeks.

“Not without you.”

He smiles.

That same smile that made me fall in love with him before either of us knew what life had planned.

“Yes,” he says softly. “You can.”

His hand slowly slips from my cheek.

“I love you, vita.”

“No!”

I wake up gasping, tears streaming down my face, my arms wrapped around empty air.

For a few seconds I don't know where I am.

Golden light spills through the windows, and my heart jumps before reality catches up with me.

The ranch.

The couch.

I'm alone.