These questions curled heavily in her chest like suffocating smoke, yet she couldn't bring herself to open her mouth and ask them aloud.
She couldn't allow him into the storm of emotions swirling endlessly inside her heart. She could not tell him the truth.
She could not tell him how deeply she wanted him, yet feared he would only end up hurting because of her.
She could not tell him how terrified she was of leaving him behind someday.
She could not tell him how desperately she longed for a future she could never confidently promise him.
She could not tell him how badly she wanted to run away before he became too attached to her… because she didn't want to witness the sadness and grief that would consume him after her loss.
Because she was only a dying woman selfishly trying to hold onto a little warmth while she still could, even when it already seemed impossible… at least before everything around her completely disappeared.
