“You…you have to go. You wouldn’t be the man I lo—” My voice hitches, my mouth gaping, fumbling. Time stops. Everything stops. Frozen, all I can do is stare wide-eyed, unblinking at the base of his throat. I don’t even think he’s breathing. Pursing my lips, I say more slowly, steadily this time, “You wouldn’t be the man I know if you stayed.”
