“I’m leaving Spain. I’ll be away for a year.”

“I know. You told me you wouldn’t be here forever.”

“I wish I could stay. I don’t want to leave you. You’ve made this apartment a home for us, a place I feel comfortable.”

“It won’t be the same without you. I’ll miss lying next to you, shielded from the sea spray that blows in the window. I won’t be able to bury my face in your pillow and breath you in. I’ll wake up every morning at five, but I won’t be able to watch you dress for work. I won’t feel your lips brush across my forehead before I turn and wrap my arms around your neck and hold you until you kiss me and tell me you have to go.”

“I’ll wake up every morning at five and feel you next to me seven thousand miles away.”

“I’m going to set my clock to yours so we wake up together.”

“You won’t return to Barcelona? You’ll stay here?”

“Yes. I’ll wait for your return.”

“I’m glad. You make me so happy, you know, staying here while I’m away. I love our little bungalow. I wish we could stay here forever.”

“Forever is a long time.”

“Forever isn’t long enough for me to love you, Susanna.”

“I’ll love you beyond forever, William.”