NATHAN'S POINT OF VIEW
Eventually, the tears slowed. Stopped. I pulled back, suddenly aware of how I must look. Red eyes, a tear-stained face, and the bandage on my lip.
"I should go," I said quietly.
"You don't have to." Isabelle's hand was still on my arm. "You can stay here tonight. There are guest rooms..."
"I need to go home." I stood up, and she rose with me. "I need to... I have to talk to him."
Understanding dawned on her face, followed quickly by worry. "Nathan..."
"I have to." I looked at her, trying to memorize her face. The concern in her eyes, the way she looked at me like I mattered. "Thank you. For this. For everything."
She walked me to her door, and I could feel her reluctance to let me go. At the threshold, I turned back.
"Isabelle."
"Yeah?"
I wanted to say so many things. Wanted to tell her everything I'd just realized. But I couldn't. Not now. Not like this.
"I'll call you tomorrow," I said instead.
