Because You Love Me

I had seen those before, of course. More times than I wished. But I had always tried not to imagine how they came to be. I had always told myself that it was all in the past, and that all it mattered now was the two of us being back together.

But now I realized I was wrong. How could it be that simple when the memory was still so crystal clear in his mind? How could we pretend to put the past behind us when he was still reliving that nightmare day after day?

I tugged slightly on his collar. He didn't resist, so I loosened the sashes, letting his robe fall open.