Rough, the scratch of the pen against the paper. Ears could bleed for less. They wouldn’t bleed, not this time, this time they would be subjected to far worse.

Everything had changed between them, and yet everything was exactly the same. The very palpable air that had woven itself around them only managed to strengthen and form a closeness that, for her at least, had been unimaginable.

She finished scratching his name onto the cotton envelope. She returned the calligraphy pen he had gotten her eons ago into its holder and folded the thick paper onto itself. Hot wax oozed out from the edges of her seal. The deep teal lightened slightly as it dried, now a perfect match to the ink she had used.

As her eyes surveyed what was in front of her – a basket, the velvety wink of the blanket, the card – it was exactly as she had pictured it from the moment she knew she would be breaking his heart. At least they had been on the same page. He knew it was coming, he knew that tonight would be the end of this chapter. The next book not yet started. He didn’t know exactly how finite their ending would be, or how beautiful she intended to make it. He only knew that tonight was their last night together. She didn’t think he suspected it was his last night with a beat in his heart, but no one thinks of Heaven on Earth as real until they’re dispelled from it.