The World that Awaited Her

"Hanna, I have something to tell you."

I look up from my book and smile at him, "What is it?"

"It’s very important so I need you to listen."

I nod.

"I don’t love you anymore."

I blink.

"I don’t love you anymore."

I blink again.

"Hanna, did you hear what I said?"

"What?"

"I said I don’t love you anymore."

The words start to make sense to my ears and I can't believe he just said them. I stare at him for a moment, trying to process what he's said. You don't just say those words out of the blue. It's not like telling someone you don't like their shoes or that you're tired of their cooking. You don't just say "I don't love you anymore" out of the blue!

"Did you hear me? Hanna? Are you okay?"

I nod.

He repeats it again.

I nod again.

"Hanna, please. Say something. Tell me what you're thinking. Please."

I look down at my book. My hands are shaking. I set it down. He reaches over and grabs my hand, but I pull away. "Don’t touch me," I say.

"Hanna…"

I stand up, pushing my chair back. "Don’t touch me," I say again. I walk over to my suitcase and put my book inside.

"Hanna, listen. Let me explain. I didn't mean it. I wouldn't say it if I didn’t mean it."

"You shouldn't say it if you do mean it."

"I didn't mean it. I love you. I swear I do. I just… I had a bad day at work and I took it out on you. Please. Just give me a second to explain."

I close my suitcase and zip it up. "I don't want to hear your explanation," I say. "I don't want to hear anything you have to say."

"Hanna, please. Please just let me…"

I ignore him and put my suitcase by the door. "I'm going to get some water. I'll be right back."

"Hanna, please…"

I leave the room and head to the kitchen. I fill a glass with water and take a drink. I don't know why he would say something like that. We've been together for five years. We've been through so much. We went to college together. We moved across the country together. We survived life in a new place, new jobs, new friends. We started a life together. And now he tells me he doesn't love me anymore.

I take another drink and head back to the room. He's sitting on the bed. His eyes are red and his face is wet. He looks like he's been crying.

"Hey," I say.

"Hey."

"Listen, I'm sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have freaked out like that."

"It's okay. I know. I shouldn't have said anything. I just... I don't know. I guess I was feeling rough and I thought you were too. I thought that maybe you were sick of me. I thought... I don't know what I thought. It was a mistake. I didn't mean it."

"I know. I forgive you."

"Really?"

"Yeah," I say. "I forgive you."

He stands up and puts his arms around me. I hug him back. He kisses my forehead. "Can we go to dinner?" he asks. "I feel like eating out tonight."

"Sure," I say. "That sounds great."