She wasn’t afraid, of him or of love or of anything, and for that he capitulated to her, kissed her. Bent his head and pressed his mouth to hers, to prove that he was strong for her, because he could be weak. Because she wanted him to love her, and because he would, without fear, for as long as he lived. For as long as his heart still beat beside hers, and for long after. For all of the afters, happily or not.
