276 Shards of Glass

"I hate seeing you having a hard time. I wish I could take everything that's making you sad," said Gael above her head, stroking her hair gently like she was the most precious thing in the world. And she was the most precious person in his world.

"Am I the only one? Aren't you having a hard time too?" Angela's voice was muffled against his chest. 

"I'm used to it." It was the truth. He'd always had it tough, but it was even more difficult now that she was involved.

"You could have saved yourself all of this mess with me if you had just moved on and forgotten about me months ago. You could've had it easier without me. You wouldn't have had to—"

He lifted her chin up so he could look into her eyes, and her voice trailed off as he shook his head at her. With easy breaths and a gleam in his gaze, he told her, "I don't regret my choices, Angel. I don't do things because it's easier; I do it because it's what I want. You're who I want."