It was his last night with Hannah. He didn’t want to waste it sleeping. Her head rested on the crook of his elbow. She was so peaceful. So tender. He held her fragile body with both arms, unable to stop wondering what would happen when the assistant director returned. Simon leaned down and nuzzled her ear with his nose, his fear of losing her surpassed only by the intensity of his love. At least God gave him this one last chance to hold her before he died.
In another universe, they would be married by now. Maybe even have a baby. Hannah would make such a patient, gentle mother. But that was another world. Another place. Not the future God had ordained for either of them. How strange he had never been afraid to die until he held her in his arms.
“You know I’d marry you if I could,” he adm
