No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Actually, I had Jefferson dig into it instead of just waiting for Ernest's final word because, deep down, I was afraid he'd lie to me, given his dad was the one driving at the time. Turns out, I was overthinking it.

"You're doubting what really happened with the brakes that year, aren't you?" Ernest asked me.

Now that Ernest and I were officially an item, I didn't want to lie to him. "Yes, I need a straight answer."

Ernest didn't speak for a moment. Then he asked softly, "Felicia, if, and I mean if... the car accident had something to do with my father, would you... leave me because of it?" The words 'leave me' hit me hard, tightening my throat as if someone's hand was clenching around it.

I knew why he was asking. I hadn't thought about it because I didn't dare to.

"Ernest, I don't know."

Although a voice inside me said, even if his dad was involved in the accident, Ernest was his own person. His father's mistakes shouldn't be his burden.

But understanding something in theory doesn't always translate to being able to live it out.

I shifted, snuggling into a more comfortable position in his arms. "Ernest, if that were true, what would you do? Would you... feel guilty because of your dad's mistake and push me away?" Ernest was silent, making me think he was as unsure as I was.

Then he murmured, "All I know is I can't live without you."

His words, about not wanting to lose me and not being able to live without me, made my heart feel like it was suffocating.

"Ernest, it won't come to that. I believe fate won't be that cruel to us," I whispered.

Ernest didn't reply, just kissed me gently, his lips claiming mine, making me forget everything else.

if he wanted to

fell asleep in his arms, but in my dream, I found myself at the scene of

"Licia..."

"Licia..."

were looking at me,

run to them, but it was as if something was

shaken awake, finding Ernest's worried face looking down at

nightmare," he

were trapped in

by holding

the quiet of

we could heet only

not

a

t argument.

wicked

you

fell

it, Conrad. If you were truly

would have worked," a voice

but I knew