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In his mind he can see his hand reaching up to tap her on the shoulder. Never thinking for a moment he'd fall in love.

His remembrance is interrupted as Jenny speaks with a quiver in her voice, thinking she can influence him to postpone his abandonment of her.

"If you leave here tomorrow." She says, "Will you still remember me?"

"If I stay here with you girl, well things just couldn't be the same." Leonard stares at the floor and continues, knowing good and well he didn't answer her question. He quickly speaks again, hoping she wouldn't realize his absurd answer.

"You'd resent me for wanting to leave and I'd resent you because I stayed."

Jenny can only sob as she grabs Leonard's hand with a desperate grip. She is so grief stricken she doesn't even realize she has just removed herself as a blockade from from the front door, until Leonard puts his hands upon her shoulders. He pulls her trembling body into his. Attempting to comfort her with an embrace.

Unfooled by the passionate caress, she knows it means goodbye and feels a sudden sense of contentment over the exhaustive need to make him stay.

"Jenny." He whispers in her ear.

"I'm as free as a bird now, and this bird you cannot change. I've always been a free bird Jenny."

She tightens her squeeze as Leonard releases his. She knows she cannot and should not try to stop him. She knows she can't change him. She takes a deep breath, prepared to let him fly.

"Leonard." Jenny whispers in return.

"It's the bird in you that I fell in love with. Fly if you must."

"Jenny.." Leonard tries to speak but Jenny, suddenly knowing just what to say, puts her forefinger tenderly upon his lips.

"Shhhhhhhh." She breathes.

"Soar my Raven if you are so compelled to scour. But it is essential that I waive my own wings ... and make a home for our own nestling."

Learn more about this author, Tonya Barton.
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