[ She's right, of course. The force with which he believes in something better will not be quelled, not even by her, in these darkest moments. Hope is a light, a flame, that intangible thing which gave him the will to keep going even when everything else seemed to be lost. She doesn't, and he knows, he knows that although she doesn't press the issue, it's not because she agrees with him. But it's alright. He can do the hoping for the both of them.

But the words that follow are absolutely rending, no matter how strongly he believes in her recovery, because she doesn't. She's saying them because...she's afraid she won't have another chance to. They're words so sweet and tender, words that all his life he's longed to hear, and yet each cuts him deep, leaving his heart raw and bleeding, and he has to break away from her gaze to squeeze his streaming eyes shut. ]

Stop - s-stop -

[ The words are barely intelligible between his hiccuping sobs, his entire body wracked with the force of them. It's not the cathartic, cleansing type of cry that they've shared so frequently over the last while - it's a deep, painful one that burns and doesn't heal, one that scoops out his entire soul from his body, one that asks how life could possibly be so unfair to one as good, as wonderful, as perfect as her. How it could possibly go on in her absence.

There is no answer that satisfies, and wholly undeserving of her professions as he is, he can't leave them unreturned, whether or not this is...the end.

His eyes finally find hers again, red and swollen, as he tips his head downward, resting his forehead against hers. ]

I-I love you, too - I always will. Being with you...is more than I ever could have dreamed of. I-I'm so much better now because you're in my heart.

[ It's almost too much, but he forces himself to go on, pushing through his quavering voice. ]

Because I met you...I'll be happy for rest of my life, Alisaie.

[ Whether she's still there to be a part of it...or not. ]