“Melissa?”

“Jarod, I know what I’ve just told you. So don’t look at me as if I’m insane …”

“I’m not thinking that you’re insane. I just can’t believe that you’ve admitted that you have feelings for me.”

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“Because you’ve chased me for years.”

“It was my job.”

“It is your job.”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“What are you going to tell me?”

“That I’m not planning to ever return to the Centre. I know that your family is not my family and I only know them for a few hours, but I feel more at home than I have for years. And in about six weeks I’m going to see my mother again. So why should I return?”

“What about Broots and Sydney?”

“I thought we could get them out of that hell …”

“But it’s not that easy. I’ve been trying for years to destroy the Centre.”

“But you’re no longer alone.”

She smiled at him.

“Neither are you, Melissa.”

“I’ve hoped so …”

“Melissa?!

“Yeah …”

“Have you also hoped that I would tell you that I’ve never stopped loving you.”

She swallowed hard.

Now the time had come to really start a new life. Without lies.

“Yeah, I hoped that you would because I hoped that I could be able to do the same.”

He knew that she wasn’t ready to say the words. But they both knew that he knew that she loved him.

And for the moment, that was enough.

               THE END