Page 25 of With Love

I can’t move. I can’t think. I can barely breathe.

“Are you okay?” Marshall rushes over to me.

“I just need to sit down,” he helps me move over to the chaise and sits me down, before squatting down in front of me, squeezing my calves slightly. If I wasn’t sitting down, I would have fallen over as an intense feeling of déjà vu comes over me.

I shake my head slightly to clear my vision.

“What’s the matter?” Marshall asks.

“I had the weirdest sense of déjà vu just now. When you crouched down in front of me and took my legs into your hands. It was as if we’d had the same exact exchange once before. But, I wasn’t sitting on a sofa. And there was a tow truck? I’m losing my mind. I’m so sorry,” I say with an uncomfortable laugh.

“Do you remember when I told you that we met when you crashed into me?”

“Yes.”

“We had to call a tow truck that day, to tow your car away. It was totaled. I’m not sure if you’re having déjà vu, or if you’re getting blips of your memory back.”

I sit there and take all of this in for a moment. I stare, blankly, at something across the room before looking back at Marshall.

“Marshall,” I speak up, trying to lighten the air once again, “this is gorgeous. I don’t know what to say. I have no idea how to thank you… this is kind of nuts!” I end up saying with a laugh.

“I don’t have much to go on, but this doesn’t seem like a normal thing to give to someone else, is it?”

“It is for us. Or, it was, before.”

That statement wipes the smile off of my face quick. Marshall changes the subject.

“The only thank you I want, is for you to be happy. If that means moving your things up here, then do it. If you don’t want to, then don’t. I want you to do whatever it is that will make you happy, okay?”

“Okay,” I smile at him and nod my head. He stands and slowly moves his lips toward my forehead. I still slightly as he makes contact, but as soon as I feel his lips flutter across my skin, a sense of peace and calming comes over me allowing me to relax quickly.

“Can I go get my things, now?”

“Of course!” he says excitedly as he holds his hands out to help me to my feet. I smile at him before turning and walking out of the room.

When I get to the middle of the hallway I stop. Turning around I look at Marshall. Wide smile across his face. Hands in his pockets. I can practically feel the sense of pride emanating from his body.

“Marshall?” I start.

“Yeah?” he answers walking slowly toward me.

“Will you, um. Will you help me?” I ask shyly.

“I’d love nothing more,” he answers, beaming with emotion.

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