"Sarah..." Lucas reached the back of the shelter and saw a silhouette sitting with its head down.
"Please… Please give me some time, Lucas. I'll be okay in a minute," she said, trying to stop her tears from falling again.
"Sarah, I know this is hard to believe… I also didn't know I'd be gone for 15 years either. There were so many opportunities, and if I had left without all that knowledge, it would have been a burden for the rest of my life," Lucas said, taking her hands in his and gently caressing them.
Sarah looked him in the eyes. Lucas took a deep breath and sensed a mixture of fondness and a little love in the air.
'Poor kid…' Lucas thought, instinctively shaking his head. 'What am I thinking? She's not a kid, she's older than me... right?' He tried reassuring himself.
Sarah, already vulnerable, began leaning closer to Lucas until their faces were only inches apart. She closed her eyes and leaned in for a kiss.
