“I miss you," I whispered."I know, Bella. believe me, I know. It's like you've taken half my self away with you.""Come and get it, then," I challenged."Soon, as soon as I possibly can. I will make you safe first."His voice was hard."I love you," I reminded him."Could you believe that, despite everything I've put you through, I love you, too?""Yes, I can, actually.""I'll come for you soon.""I'll be waiting.”

“I promise I'll come back. No matter what happens." Though his voice was only a whisper, there was a fierceness behind it. I believed him completely. "I'll wait for you," I told him.”

“God i've missed you. I can't wait to give you your present. He kisses me hotter this time, and beneath me, through his denim and mine. I can feel the promise of his Christmas gift soon to come.”

“See you soon,” I whispered. I bit my lip; and, in a moment of sheer abandon, I added, “I think I might . . . you know . . . love you, by the way.” “Too,” Joshua whispered back groggily. “Love.”

“So what, I lied, I lied to me too. So what, I lied, I lied to me too. Hold out for the ones you know will love you. Hide out from the ones you know will love you. You, you too.Dark you can't come soon enough for me.”

“I love you. That won't change because you tell me you don't love me. My love is not dependent on yours. It's just there, and I won't do anything to cut it out of my heart. It's what I've waited for all my life, and if you walk out that door, I'll go to my grave loving you, missing you, praying that you'll come back to me. I will never love another woman the way I love you. I will always be there for you. If you leave, know that my door is open. I will always be waiting for you to walk back through it.”