I cover her hands with mine. They are shaking.
Then she steps inside.
“I’ll be late,” I say. “I’ll mess up. I’ll probably leave the mugs on the windowsill until next Tuesday. But I’ll mean it. I swear to God, Tabitha. I’ll mean it until I get it right.” tabitha stay with me
“Then let me be late,” I say. “Let me be late and awful and whatever else I’ve been. But don’t leave. Don’t get in that car. Because once you do—” My throat closes up. I swallow. “Once you do, you take everything. The good mornings. The burnt toast. The way you hum when you think no one is listening. You take all of it, and I’ll be standing in this doorway for the rest of my life, saying it to no one.” I cover her hands with mine
She closes her eyes. A single raindrop falls from her lashes. “I’ll be late,” I say