Hideaway Strath 20 going on 50

!

He received her words with complete grace. Towhee couldn't explain why that made her feel even worse. She wasn't really sure what she would've done if Rye had had some sort of outburst, though she almost would have preferred it to this calm acceptance. It made her want to eat her own words, yank him back and tell him she was only kidding, of course she loved him back! Towhee actually quivered with the intensity of the impulse, though she held herself still, lips pressed firmly shut against any vile white lies that tried to spring forth.

Once she trusted herself to speak, Rye was already turning away and leaving. Towhee told herself to let him go, so he could process everything on his own, though she caught his words and answered, -"Rye, you've never been anything but absolutely great."- And I really wish I felt the same way, that I could've been the answer to your question. -"I'm glad. Your friendship means a lot to me."- And there was a lot more she wanted to say, yet she left it at that, letting him go.