Then…Punish Me

Caesar drew a deep breath.

"That is what it's been like these past two months you left me." He watched Adeline shake her head, tears pouring from her eyes. It was clear she had so much to say but didn't know where to begin. "Were you happy when you left me? Did you feel better leaving me? Were you better off without me?" 

"No! No, no, not at all." Adeline looked into his eyes, responding. "I missed you so much every day. It was so hard, and I was miserable, I felt like I could die at times. I didn't-"

"Then why?" Caesar asked. "Why didn't you just stay with me? Make me understand."  

Adeline sniffled, trying to form the right word to use and form what she wanted to say out loud. "Caesar…" Deep breaths, deep breaths. 

Caesar was patient enough to wait on her. He wanted her to stop crying. He hated it, as it was causing a painful knot to tighten in his chest. "Adeline-"