Ellie had imagined that watching David read the letter would be difficult. Worrying. She'd had images of his silence for moments afterward, and then quietly being directed to pack up her things. In actuality, watching him now was beautiful -- his smile was infectious, and hers grew too at the sight of it, the way it always did.
She'd never had a moment like this in her life before. She'd never felt this way -- so much this way -- about anything, and it was hard to know what to do with it all.
By the time David looked up at her again, Ellie was more than beaming; she was happy enough to quiver in his lap, like a little pet, and giggle merrily at the sight of his grin. The kiss answered any question she might have asked, and she responded with answering passion: pressing in closer and pushing them slightly off balance. The letter and phone disappeared somewhere in between.
"I was scared too," she whispered, pulling away from him just far enough to be heard. "But... Know you don't have to be. Ever. ... Never. Not with me."