Unrequited by Emily Shaffer Page A

seeing the real Ashton, and she was lovely. She was caring to everyone around her. Many times he had seen her including some of the lesser popular students in her activities. She was always quick to thank anyone who helped her, whether it was the cafeteria worker or a student handing out papers. There was an innate sweetness in Ashton. Once she had quit fighting the world, her divine light was able to shine through and touch everyone she met. She was beloved by her family and her friends and loved by him.
    Tonight, he felt a change in her, too. Her armor was gone and her light, that she so tried to hide away in Will’s presence, was finally shining on him.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Ashton felt like she was in a dream. Will was gazing into her eyes and, for the first time, she didn’t try to look away. Even if just for a night, she was going to embrace being with Will. Everything about him was beautiful. His face and his eyes were the perfect conveyors for the beauty inside. From the moment they met, Will had been kind and earnest and all good things. He'd understood the possibility of their relationship before she ever could, and now she was here in his arms. For the first time, time didn’t seem to exist. The world he was born in had collided with hers, and it all made perfect sense.
    She had recognized her feelings for him on many occasions, but always ran away from them. She'd had a stubborn streak since the day she was born. When she was re-born into this new world, she had focused all of her stubborn pride at Will. So much of her life seemed out of control, but her relationship with Will was the one thing she could control, so she did.
    The music stopped, and they quit dancing, but Will continued to hold Ashton in his arms. Her heart beat faster, and she wasn't sure what she hoped would happen next. Will had given her space, and in that space she had been able to cast away her defenses and look at her life and the people in it. The care and respect he had shown her, especially during the time they didn't speak, had shown her everything. He was a man to be loved. He was a man she could love. Nervously, she looked down.
    “Look at me,” Will whispered, gently tilting her head up to face him. “I love you, Ashton,” he said quietly.
    “I know,” she replied as he leaned forward and captured her lips in a gentle kiss.
    The kiss stirred Ashton's conflicted heart. Was she truly falling in love with this man for who he was, or was she deciding to love him since he was the only other person in her new world? She knew accepting this kiss after Will's declaration of love was cruel and unfair, but she couldn’t resist letting it continue on. Once it ended, Will gently took Ashton’s hand in his.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Hand in hand the pair strolled around the edge of the pond. Will felt a joy he didn’t know was possible. In one kiss, he knew he'd found his soul mate. A year ago he had felt destined to wander eternity alone, and now he held the hand of the woman he was sure he would spend forever with. He couldn’t have known this morning that the day would end in such a happy way.
    “There are so many things to discuss, and plans to make.” Will broke the silence that had started with the kiss. Ashton turned to Will. She couldn’t meet his gaze and kept her eyes cast toward the dark ground.
    “I hope you know, this hasn't changed anything, Will. I'm still leaving,” Ashton said with a slight quiver in her voice.
    “Leaving? But what about tonight? You can't pretend things haven't changed.” Will could hear the desperation in his own voice.
    “I still have the same dreams I had an hour ago. I'm going to leave. I'm going to go to college and do college things. Please understand, this isn't about you, this is about me taking advantage of the years of normalcy I still have left.” Ashton's voice was trembling now.
    “Why does that plan have to take place in a world separate from mine? Ashton, I don't understand. I