'I Have To'

'I Have To'

"I have to leave" I finally said it. I just could not continue. This feeling had been growing over the last few weeks.

He was crying. He begged me "Don’t go."

I looked at him. Tears were starting to form in his eyes. One teardrop ran down his cheek and stopped and was held suspended right on his face. "But I must go. It is not working out. I can’t continue."

I held him as he sobbed. I said in a low voice, "I have tried. But it has been too much work to keep this relationship together."

In between sobs, he said, "I’ll do my part. I promise."

I shook my head, "You said that before." I released him from my arms and turned my back to him. "I’m sorry but it is good-bye."

He grabbed my hand and held it to his face. "Please. Give me one more chance. Please."

I exhaled and placed my hand on my forehead. I was a sucker when it came to a crying man. I heard him sobbing. We had loved each other at the start. But it changed over time. I wondered if we could get back to the way we once were.

I turned around and pulled him up from the knelling position. I wiped the tears from his cheek. I gave him a kiss on his cheek. I held him for the longest time. He knew what my answer would be. He saw it in my face.

I finally decided. "OK. One more time."

He felt the weight of the world being removed from his shoulders.

As they held each other they thought to themselves, "I have to make it work this time. I have to…."