As she was riding the last waves of her orgasm, Simone repetitively whispered ‘I love you’ which made Annabelle hold her tighter.

As her orgasm disappeared, Simone started crying again. Retracting her trapped fingers from Simone’s warm body, Annabelle held her with both her arms;

"I love you Simone. Why are you crying?"

Between two sobs, Simone responded;

"Because I love you so much, I have to go."

"You don’t! Don’t tell me it was a last fuck before leaving me" Annabelle’s anger had risen again.

"Annabelle, I resigned, I have to go. I meant every word I said earlier. I’m not good for you."

Annabelle tried to get Simone out of her dramatic vision and slapped her. It didn’t surprise her that much <I deserved that> Simone just bit her lip desperately trying to avoid Annabelle’s eyes. But, noticing it, Annabelle cupped her chin with one hand and forced her to look at her;

"Listen to me now. You’re perfect for me, and I’m perfect for you." putting her hand on Simone’s left breast she added "Deep down, you know it. You’re just scared to admit it because you think it’d screw up our lives. But you must know somewhere that I’ve never been happier, and somehow I think you haven’t either."

A tear rolling ever so slowly down her cheek, Simone barely nodded. Not saying a word.

"Now, you have to go. It’s okay. I’ll graduate in two weeks, and you will be here picking me up once I do."

"I can’t. Do you really think we can…?"

"I do." Kissing her lightly on the lips, Annabelle held her tight again.

——

The crying had disappeared, along with the fears. Annabelle and Simone were now sharing their last moments together before two long weeks. They had moved to the bed and cuddled silently, Simone stroking Annabelle’s hair; Annabelle listening to Simone’s comforting heart beat. They didn’t feel the need to talk. After all, that’s all they would do for two weeks, phones being their only connection when Simone would be gone. They both preferred to enjoy each other’s warmth as long as they could before saying goodbye. Annabelle was supposed to be in class, but she was supposed to be in Simone’s class, so no one would notice. Or maybe her friends would, but she knew she had Collins to cover her.