“Oh my god, Ashley, did you hurt yourself?” I reach over to her and grab her hands examining them for any sign of injury. I completely forgot about everything else she told me and was worried about her possibly injured hands before anything else. She giggled slightly before wrapping her fingers around my hands that were examining hers. I look up at her and see the tears running down her cheek and pull one of my hands out of hers and reach up to wipe them away with my thumb and I lean in and kiss where her tears had been. I hate to see Ashley hurting like this, it tears me apart. I just want to take it all away.

            “I like how you’re more worried about me punching a wall than anything else I just told you.” She looks at me and laughs lightly as she strokes my hand with her fingers. I continue to rub my thumb across her face.

            “I just don’t want to see you hurt yourself because you’re upset. Now, about everything else I really think you need to go back to the lawyer and talk to him about how this is all going to go and what we can do to stop it or make it better.”

            “We? Why did you say we?” I tilt my head at her wondering if that’s a serious question.

            “Ashley, I am going to be by your side every step of the way with this. I’m going to help as much as I possibly can. That is if you want me to help.” I look away as I say the last part. I feel her pull her hands away from mine and I feel my face drop as I start to turn away from her. “I’m sorry I was just”

            “Spence,” she cuts me off as she puts her hand on my cheek and forces me to look at her. When I look up I see her smile slightly at me. “Of course I want your help. I can’t imagine doing this without you by my side. I was just a little shocked that you actually wanted to go through all of this voluntarily. I’m so lucky to have someone like you to stand by me through all of the hard times and the good times. You’re the most amazing best friend and girlfriend anyone could ever ask for.”

            I can’t say anything at this point so I just pull her into me and kiss her passionately. When we end the kiss I wrap my arms around her waist and hold onto her. We stay like that for a long time just holding each other in the most intimate embrace that is so full of love. I wish we could stay like this forever and just forget the world and all of the bad things in it. I wish I could protect Ashley from the pain she will feel. I wish I could take it for her. I guess that is what love is, feeling so strongly about someone that you would take on all the pain and even give your life to make sure they are happy and safe.