The glass was set down slowly, carefully though his hand remained at its base. Only his eyes followed her, followed her as she cleaned up and moved behind him to wash her dishes. At his back, his mind’s eye pictured her at the sink; her delicate hands perhaps trembled slightly from the weight of the dish. When the sound of the water stopped and he felt her shift her weight, he pictured her turn to him hand outstretched only to then stop.<br/><br/>It was that action that nearly broke him nearly shattered what bit of resolve he clung to.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">What is this anymore? Is it a relationship?</span><br/><br/>At her question he felt a sudden tightness in his chest and it took all that he had to not beg her for something, anything just…<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">You…all I want is you…</span><br/><br/>“Maria…” he began but then decided against it. “No…nothing,” he stood turned to her with a smile. “Want me to build us a fire and we can just sit there until bed time?” he offered, voice full of as much optimism he could muster.