---- Elsie so badly, where were you before?" Austin admitted, "I know I messed up! Just a few more days. Please hang in there. I'll cook dinner tonight." Austin's cooking was legendary. Rare, but always so good it made Sierra want seconds. Thinking of Austin's food, Sierra swallowed hard and nodded. That night, after a full meal, Austin happily washed the dishes and scrubbed the kitchen spotless. Sierra snorted, glanced at him, then went to her room without a word. Though she didn't look pleased, Austin's heart soared. He felt pumped and started daydreaming about breakfast and dinner. Days passed like this. One night, Sierra woke up thirsty and wandered to the living room. She found Austin tending the balcony, carefully changing the soil for sunflowers he'd planted for Elsie. ---- "What are you doing messing around at midnight?" she asked. "In a few days, they'll just die anyway." Sierra cared about her looks and hated gardening. She was annoyed Austin's hands were filthy. Austin washed up and said, "Elsie likes it." Sierra was irritated by how clingy he was being. Before the divorce, he'd never done any of this for Elsie! Austin looked at her, tired and pale-the face he couldn't forget. He reached out, gently touching her. "Can't sleep? You look awful." Sierra jerked away. "Mind your own business. When are you leaving?" Austin pleaded, "Sierra, please don't treat me like this. I know I was wrong." "Is an apology enough?" she shot back. "Can all the awful things you did with other women just disappear?" ---- Austin's face fell. "There were no other women..." "I don't want to hear it!" Sierra turned and walked away. Austin stepped after her and hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her head. His voice was low and trembling. "Sierra, please don't do this. I know I screwed up. I'll change. Don't push me away. Every day without you is torture. You're all I think about." Sierra wiggled free, "Get off me!" "You can yell, hit me, but please don't ignore me," he begged. Her voice cracked. "I'm not sad? Not tortured? Countless nights I cried alone-where were you? Be reasonable, Austin. I barely pulled myself out of that darkness. Please, just leave me alone." Austin turned, cupping her face with hands, full of pain. He wanted to wipe her tears, but no matter what, they kept coming. "I can't do this. I tried but I just can't," he whispered. He bent down, kissed her tears away. "Let's start ---- over. Please, let's try again..." His lips moved slowly down until they finally pressed to hers. Austin kissed her hard and deep. Sierra's mind blanked. She wanted to push him away, but he caught her hands, fingers laced tight. Logic fled with every kiss-her body betrayed her. After all those years together, Austin knew exactly how to break through. With their size difference, he easily pushed Sierra onto the sofa, one hand tangled in her hair, lost in the kiss, unwilling to let go. The night was quiet-just the two of them. Hormones clashed, sparking a fire. His restless lips drifted down... Sierra's chest tightened. She gasped and pressed a hand to his mouth. Austin stopped and looked into her eyes, desire blazing but then softened, collapsing weakly onto her. The feeling pulled Sierra back to the beginning-the fiery, intense love they once had. They'd married just a month after meeting. ---- Was this love? If so, why did it feel so fragile? Her ragged breath slowed. She pushed him away, sat up, and said firmly, "You need to leave." Then she got up and went to her room. Collapsing on the bed, Sierra curled into a tight ball, hugging herself as tears spilled uncontrollably. She hated feeling this way-like she'd fallen back into those dark days before the divorce. So much pain, so much helplessness... Luckily, Austin had to leave early the next day for an emergency at work.