I Have You

Leila

Christopher leaned back in the chair, crossing one leg over his knee. His foot bounced as he rubbed his jaw. “I’ll drop out. He never has to know it was you.”

“But your education,” I protested.

“I was only taking classes to keep myself busy. I don’t really need that now. I have you—don’t I?”

I nodded. “You do but I can’t let you make a sacrifice like that. I understand you are seeking something. I don’t know what it is exactly, but you have to go on this journey. I don’t want you to resent me because I got in the way of what you want. What you need. There has to be another way.”

He slowly shook his head. “I don’t want you to lose your job—your career. You’ve worked so hard to get your dream job. I won’t let you give that up, not for me to chase something I don’t need.”

“You might not need it, but you want it,” I insisted.

“What do you have in mind?” he asked.

I wasn’t sure how much to tell him. Then I thought about what he’d just spent the last twenty-four hours thinking and fee