“I've never met anyone like you before!”

“You should be grateful for that,” I said.

“What do you mean Sarai, you're amazing. “

“ People who know me always end up hurt, and broken. Just like me.”

I thought of my friends, my mother, and my brother. They all met terrible fates…because of me.

I continued, “You should be happy that you've never met anyone like me. That means that you've never gone through the pain. And I hope you never do Jacob.” My smile was sad as I looked from the fire to his face.

“ Well, you should know that to me… you aren't like that.”

“ What do you mean Jacob? I'm like that to everyone.” He stopped fiddling with the fire and looked up at me.

“ To me, you are a ray of hope in this bleak unforgiving world. I mean take a look around Sarai. Were in the woods hiding from a man who wants to take everything we've ever known away from us. At first, I was scared because it's dark and cold here inside and out, but then I look at you and everything just…stops. Ever since I met you in that alleyway I haven't been able to stop feeling so happy about everything we've been through on the way here. If I have to die today, I would rather spend my last moments with you than with anyone else.”

My eyes met his with tears threatening to fall through. No one had ever thought those things about me before let alone said aloud. I rose gracefully and took slow, deliberate steps towards him, sitting next to him as watched me move silently. The only sound piercing the air was the crackling fire beside us and the rustling of the wind. I placed both hands on his face, my fingers covering his freckles. He smiled softly watching my slow movements. Then, he reached up and brushed a curl out of my face, along with a tear. He inched closer ever so slightly, as if asking for permission. And he kissed me. So soft. So sweet. So innocent that even my bitterness couldn't ruin the moment. My hands then moved to his chest, searching for the beat of his heart. I broke the kiss and pulled him into a warm embrace.

I open my eyes and look at my ceiling. Suddenly, I'm dragged back, to reality. My bed once cold from the moment I laid my head, is now warm from the hours I've been daydreaming. I still remember that kiss as if it happened yesterday. It makes me sad every time I think of him. His brown eyes stared into mine, and then the sudden loss of life in them. Tears flow from my eyes, and I clutch my chest, feeling the pain from my heart slowly become worse. I take a deep breath. I cared about this one this time. But he wouldn't listen to me when I said people who know me get hurt. Pain and regret surged through me when I plunged that knife into his heart. My body crumpled as soon as the light left his eyes. I felt numb and broken, more than usual. I swore to myself that if ever I met someone like him again I would never again hurt them because never before have I loved like the love he had given me.