"No, it's okay," he said with an embarrassed laugh. "I had hoped that I would be able to return to you completely well again, but..."
"It's okay," she said gently, although a bit nervously. "Don't worry.." She led him to a chair, circling worriedly. "What were you saying?"
"Her name is Aisling," he said tiredly. "She's, uh... about 15 years older than I am... She lives up in the mountains."
He considered it before sighing. "When I got drunk that night, Tez, it was because every time I tried to come home, I thought of seeing your face when I told you the news. I wanted to be near you so badly. I don't know if you know what a comfort you are to me. But every time I thought of your face, I just... couldn't do it. So, when I finally came home, I didn't want my remaining months with you to be reminiscent of that. Does that make sense?"
She watched him, searching his face before sighing, sitting beside him. "I understand," she said quietly, "and it's okay. It's alright."
He hesitated, looking down at their hands. "Pretty, uh... pretty bad. Aisling was making arrangements."
She frowned, observing him thoughtfully. Her hand reached up to brush his jaw. "You're okay.." She took a breath. "You came back."
His hand came up to rest on hers. "I always wanted to. I just... I didn't think I would get to see you again."
