Disclaimer: Characters don’t belong to me. They belong to the WWF. The song is ‘That’s How Love Moves’ by Faith Hill. No copyright infringement intended.
I lean back against the bed just watching you. Your fingers fly over the keyboard and I smile at how animated your face gets when you’re in front of your computer. I’ve learned so much about you in the short time we’ve been together. What did I ever do to deserve someone like you? And I know the answer is nothing. I don’t deserve you. How can you just overlook the things I’ve done? How can you love someone like me? I don’t understand how things changed. We went from hating each other to loving each other so quickly. I know you think I fought my attraction to you because of my family, but you’re wrong. I fought it because I knew I could never be the woman you deserved. I’m tainted, Chris. Not only by my own actions, but by those of my family. I’ve heard what’s being said backstage and I hate that the taint is rubbing off on you. You don’t deserve it.
IT’S SUCH A MYSTERY
HOW HE FOUND SOMETHING IN ME
THAT I NEVER KNEW WAS THERE
BUT HE UNCOVERED IT SO EASILY
HE TURNED ME LIKE A SEASON
AND I BEGAN TO CHANGE
SINCE HE WRAPPED HIMSELF AROUND ME
YOU KNOW I’VE NEVER BEEN THE SAME, CAUSE
I know I’ve changed.....you’ve changed me. I’m not the same woman I was six months ago. But is it enough? Maybe the best thing for you would be if I walked away right now. Go back to the person my family expects me to be......the person you hated. It would be better for you. You deserve so much more then I have to offer you. Tears fill my eyes as I think about all that you’ve done for me. You’ve taught me how to love. To really love someone. I don’t think I ever knew what it meant before. And I do love you, Chris Jericho. More then you’ll ever realize. But doing what’s best for the other person is part of loving, isn’t it? To be unselfish enough to let the person go. Can I do that? Now that I’ve finally found happiness, can I just walk away from it? I look over at you, memorizing your profile. And I know it would hurt like hell, but I’m willing to do it. Because I love you. You’ve given me the strength to do the right thing. And I’ll never forget you for that.
THAT’S HOW LOVE WORKS
THAT’S HOW LOVE MOVES
LIKE A RIVER RUNNING THROUGH YOU
SOMETIMES IT LIFTS YOU HIGH AS HEAVEN
IT CONSUMES YOU
BUT THAT’S A GIVEN
THAT’S HOW LOVE MOVES
I lie in your arms and try to memorize everything about you. The beating of your heart, the sound of your breathing, the feel of your body against mine. I want to remember everything. And I want to remember the look of love in your eyes, because I know the next time I see them, it will be replaced with anger. Then it’ll go back to hate. I have to make you hate me again, Chris. It’s the only way I’ll be able to do this. God, I wish there was another way. But I can’t let you be hurt because of me. As the tears start spilling over, I get out of bed, careful not to wake you. I hurry into the bathroom and get dressed. I look at my reflection in the mirror and know that I’ll never look at myself the same again. No matter how I act, inside I’m different. Taking a deep breath I turn and grab my bags. I’m standing at the door, but I can’t go yet. There’s one thing I have to do first. I set my bags down and walk back to the bed. I look down at you and smile sadly. Sitting carefully, I lean over and kiss you softly. I love you, Chris. Goodbye. I reach out to caress your cheek then start to stand. I’m not prepared for your hand grabbing my wrist. I look at your face and my breath catches as I meet your eyes. You pull me back to sit on the bed then you push yourself up. I look down at my lap as I see your gaze go from me to where my bags sit by the door.
I’VE SEEN WALLS THAT COULD NEVER BE BROKEN
COME TUMBLING DOWN
I’VE HEARD THE VOICE OF LOVE WHEN IT’S CALLING
WITHOUT MAKING A SOUND
SEE I WAS TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL
THE DAY HE TOOK MY HAND
AND YOU KNOW HE’S A MIRACLE
THAT MAKES ME EVERYTHING I AM
"Why Steph?"
I can’t answer you, can’t look at you. But you won’t take my silence and you reach out to tilt my face to you. I can see the confusion and pain in your eyes. God, I never wanted to hurt you. "I’m sorry, Chris."
You look at me so intently. I feel like you’re seeing into my soul and I try to turn my face away, but you won’t allow it. "Do you love me, Stephanie?"
"Chris, it......."
You lay a finger over my lips and I can’t help but look at you. "Just tell me yes or no."
I can’t lie to him, I just can’t do it. "Yes."
You nod your head and pull me into your arms. How easy it would be to just forget everything and stay here. But I can’t. "I have to leave, Chris. For you."
I can feel your head shake and your arms tighten around me. "I know what’s going on in that mind of yours, Steph. I’m a big boy and I can take care of myself. What some narrow-minded idiots think of me doesn’t matter. You matter to me."
"But......."
"There’s no buts, Steph. I love you and I don’t care who knows it. You’ve changed and sooner or later they’ll realize that. Until then, forget about them. Don’t let them ruin this for us."
I wrap an arm around your waist as I feel the tears run down my cheeks. "You deserve so much more."
"Steph, look at me."
Slowly I tilt my head to look at you and my heart swells at the look of love in your eyes. "I deserve to be happy. And being with you makes me happy. Don’t take that away from me, baby."
I can’t speak past the tears and I press myself against you. Your arms tighten around me as though you’ll never let me go. And I know that I don’t want to go. If you’re willing to risk everything for me, then so am I. Wrapped in your arms, I can believe that anything’s possible.
THE END
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