"Please don't go," Cade begs, his hands on your calf as he kneels in front of you.

You've been talking about this for months, you'd think he'd get used to the thought of you leaving him, but no matter how much he tries to wrap his head around it, he can't help the surge of panic at just the thought.

"You can study here," he tells you, inching closer to you. "You don't need to go all the way across the world."

He wants you to stay. He needs you to stay. Without you, who is he?

"Please."