She turned to him and took a deep breath before saying, "I loved you Ben. You were the only person, apart from Fred, who was there for me and made me feel whole. I was afraid that I'd forget you one day and didn't want to get involved with you.
"You convinced me. You remember what you told me that day?" she asked and Ben nodded but didn't say a word. Maria went on, "you told me that even if I forgot you, you would follow me around the world and make me remember. You said that you would wake up every day and be my friend and chase me even if I forgot you.
"You promised that you wouldn't give up on me. Those were the most wonderful words I ever heard from anybody and I don't remember if my father or mother ever said that to me. I believed you, Ben." Her voice cracked a bit.
