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I’ve pictured us there, having an apart offinto bed, with ether Knowingher head There are tears beco possible in her eyes And that’s all it takes for my fantasy to pop That’s all it takes for my fantasy to become another fool’s dreaently "I wish I could believe it, but I can’t"

"But, Rhiannon--"

"I want you to know, if you were a guy I uy every day, if the inside was the outside--there’s a good chance I could love you forever This isn’t about the heart of you--I hope you know that But the rest is too difficult There irls out there who could deal with it I hope there are But I’m not one of the "So … what? This is it? We stop?"

"I want us to be in each other’s lives But your life can’t keep derailing o to school and go to prorateful--truly grateful--not to be with Justin anys"

I’m surprised by my own bitterness "You can’t do that for me the way I can do that for you?"

"I can’t I’m sorry, but I can’t"

We are outside, but the walls are closing in We are on solid ground, but the bottom has just dropped out

"Rhiannon …," I say But the words stop there I can’t think of anything else to say I’ve run out of ument

She leans over and kisses o," she says "Not forever But for now Let’s talk again in a few days If you really think about it, you’ll come to the same conclusion And then it won’t be as bad Then we’ll be able to work through it together, and figure out what co next It just can’t be …"

"Love?"

"A relationship Dating What you want"

She stands up I am left stranded on the bench

"We’ll talk," she assures me

"We’ll talk," I echo It sounds empty

She doesn’t want to leave it like this She will stay until I give so this moment

"Rhiannon, I love you," I say

"And I love you"

That isn’t the question, she’s saying

But it’s not the answer, either