Days pass, and I start to grow anxious. In just two days we will both be at the airport, both flying to different countries, to two different colleges. I knew letting her go would be hard enough as a friend, but now that I love her as more than that, I can not bear the thought. We will both have separate lives, new friends, maybe eventually new lovers. The idea makes my heart heavy.

I imagine her walking through the halls, arms filled with classic books (most of which she is reading for fun), talking and laughing with nameless, faceless friends. Her gazing at all the old architecture of the buildings, dreaming of the moments long forgotten of people in those buildings. I can picture her creating small stories about every crack in the tiles, every splinter, every poster taped to the light posts. I imagine her dancing in the rain with her friends, thunder crackling above, but they are not the least bit concerned. I envision a person running up to her, kissing and hugging her. And I know that person will not be me.

"What are you thinking about?" Rory asks softly, laying on the picnic blanket as if in a dream. I move so my body is parallel to her's.

"College." My voice sounds nearly hollow as I play with the grass. "We will both be in completely different countries, and we can't really afford to visit each other often." She sighs sadly, gazing at the fluffy clouds floating lazily through the robin egg blue sky. "I just... I don't want to lose you."

My voice breaks, and I realize just how scared I am at the idea of her not being in my life.

"I don't really know what to say. I don't want to lose you either, Belle. The very thought of losing you terrifies me." I watch the shadows dance softly across her face, thinking about if I had never met her, and if it might have been better than loving her and having to let her go. "I promise you that we will visit each other. I promise that I will never, ever leave you."

She turns her head so her eyes meet mine. She leans close, her breath tickling my lips as she kisses me gently. The tender longing and sadness in her touch hurts my very being.

"Belle," she whispers quietly, the words drifting tranquilly beneath the afternoon sun.

"I love you."

My heart stops.

"What?" Her eyes meet mine fiercely.

"I love you. I have for a long time. I want to be with you, I want to be the one you love, I want to be the one you tell people about in such a romantic way it makes everyone's heart melt. I want to be your girlfriend." She grabs my hand, squeezing tightly.

"I love you, Belle."

"I... I love you too, Aurora." My heart is racing, and I know she is the one I want to be with, the only one I ever want to be with.

I love her.