Sun Mote Copse A dream drawn from the sheath.

As soon as he'd embraced her, she gave way to it, pressing her face to him.  It wasn't that she hadn't wanted the hug.  She'd needed him to initiate it, because his doing so meant everything really was okay.  He really didn't hate her for leaving.

I will, she promised, a little choked up.  It was messed up that the instant he was okay with the departure, it made it ten times harder for her to turn around and walk away from him.  She was dangerously close to giving in... letting Penn leave without her.  But she couldn't.  She needed to try this, for her sake if no one else's.

I love you, she added, before stepping back.  She wasn't going to be able to keep it straight much longer, so she turned and began to walk way, this time slower.  She'd be back in no time, she was sure of it, with a whole bunch of life to talk about.