"I'm not just protecting you..." he started but he didn't know how to finish. Everything he could say just sounded selfish and maybe it was. As they went inside, he took off his coat. The house looked just as he remembered it. He couldn't imagine her leaving. It was fine if he was gone, as long as he could come back and still see her there. But that was the problem... she wouldn't always be there.
He paused in front of the pictures hanging on the wall. Happy faces, beautiful faces, a family in moments and one by one, they were gone. He heard her rustling in the kitchen and went in to check on her. She was unsuccessfully trying to open a bottle. "You need to sleep," he said but she didn't seem to be paying attention. As she rested her head against the counter, he couldn't help shake his head. Oscar took her arm and leaned it against his shoulder as he lifted her up in his arms. She felt light in his arms and warm. He carried her into her room and placed her gently on the bed. With a heavy sigh, he sat by her feet, sliding off her shoes.
Oscar knew he should leave. Everything was telling him too. It wasn't logical to stay. She would be fine on her own. She would get over her grief and get over him. Humans bounced back. It was their best trait. But in the back of his mind he thought, she might need me... So he continued to sit there, watching her, arguing with himself. She didn't need him. She was just lonely. But as often as he said it, he couldn't quite get himself to believe it.