Live continually in an expectation of your great charge. Buy, sell, converse, read, pray, hear, and do all as dying men and passing to receive the recompense of endless joy or woe. Christians, if you would work while it is day; if you would glorify God on earth; if you would not be prey to the prince of darkness; if you would stand with comfort before the Lord Jesus at His dreadful bar; if you would not spend your days without hope--arise, therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with you.
Where have you been?β I asked, almost a whisper. I wanted to laugh hysterically at the controlled calmness of it all, as if nothing at all had happened, as if he hadnβt resurrected himself after an eternity of absence. βNew York. I have a good friend there. I found a job, a place. I had to- away from here; away from Bella; from you.β Swallowing, I clasped my hands together to stop from trembling and I said in a low, audible voice, βFrom me?β He sighed heavily. βI canβt love you, Helena. I still love Bella. And I suppose I could love another woman in another way at the same time, but not you.β ββ¦but why?β I tried hard to keep my voice and gaze even. I glanced at the plain wedding ring on the third finger on his left hand, his wedding band. It was gleaming brightly in the firelight. I felt my heart plummet, like a disappointed child. Seeking the right words, he replied with a very soft voice, βItβs because I would always see you as an extension of her. I want to fall in love with you in separate way, the one that involves only us, uninfluenced by the past and our hurt. I canβt do that now and I canβt tell when Iβll be able to.
