He Thought I Would Always Wait Novels & Stories

"I'm sorry. I've neglected you a bit lately." "It's alright. No matter how long it takes—if you need me, I'll always be right here, waiting." Her heart trembled at those words. She turned to look at him, the glow from passing streetlights cutting softly across his profile. Years later, Sharon would still remember that sentence—word for word. But even then, she would still wonder… was there ever really someone who could stand in the same place, waiting forever?

“He will come. He always comes.” But another thought slithered in, cruel and poisonous. And if he doesn’t? My breath stuttered.

Until he said it was done with seriousness I couldn't misread, but till then, I will continue to hope. I’m not foolish enough to expect miracles, but I’m stubborn enough to wait for one. Because even if he doesn’t believe in me anymore, I still believe in his love for me. And I wanted to believe that somewhere, buried under the burden of this mess, that version of us still lives. Some things don’t die easily, right? Some silences aren’t empty; they’re full of words waiting to be spoken. So I’ll wait. Even if it takes forever. My love is as stubborn as ever, just like me.

I saw the man fate had tied me to long before I ever realized it. I saw the man who, in his quiet, steady way, had been waiting for me to come back to him. And for the first time in years, I believed in something I thought I had lost. I believed in us. Always.

He looked at me with the open face and said, quietly and without the sentence stopping halfway: “I’m going to say the things I haven’t said yet. Not tonight. But soon.” I held his gaze. “I know.” “I wanted you to know I know the timeline.” “I know that too.” I looked at him. “I’m not waiting impatiently. I’m just waiting.” He nodded once. The slow nod of a man inhabiting a decision rather than managing it. I said goodbye. I walked to the subway. I went down the stairs and through the turnstile and stood on the platform in the October underground warmth and thought about soon and what it contained.

"What, then." I did not have an answer for him. He waited a beat to see if I would find one. "Thought as much," he said. * * *

Thomas looked toward the house. A warm light still glowed from one of the windows. Inside... people waited for him. Not because they expected him to remember. Because they loved him anyway. His chest tightened. Then he whispered, "I've been thinking." Adrian smiled. "That can be dangerous." Thomas laughed. "I've noticed." Honestly? Fair. Very fair. Reasonable actually. Then his smile faded. "If I never remember..." He paused. "...will they always be waiting for someone who isn't coming back?"

He smiled, and it was the saddest thing I'd ever seen. "That's okay, I'll wait.I've been waiting my whole life for you, I can wait a little longer."

"I need you to know something." I looked up at him, surprised. "What is it?" He stopped and turned to face me fully, his fingers tightening gently around mine. "I will never leave you," he said. "No matter what happens, no matter how much you doubt yourself, I’ll always be by your side." So he had heard. "Zephyr, I…" "I told you this back at the cabin, remember?" he said softly. "I’ll wait. I don’t care how long it takes. I’ll wait until you’re ready to open your heart again."

I let out a quiet breath in the empty room. I was not giving up on you, Ryker. I'm used to your coldness. I had waited years for that one night to happen. And it did. I would wait again if that's what it took. Because I was certain. Very certain it would happen again. Sooner or later.