Well, my last day arrived way too soon. Our family was moving a week later but I needed a week to pack up and load the U-Haul. I had a lot of work to do and I needed some time.

I dreaded this day but it was here. The last time I would wear these scrubs, clock in and do my job. My last lunch in this break room, my last room that I would clean. My last time in the same building with Zale. Fuck I would miss him but it was all in my head. I knew it was.

I was working later than normal. I wasn't ready to be done. Most everyone was gone after making me cry and wishing me good luck.

Fuck, I would miss them. Him.

I had my music streaming through the speakers of the room, enjoying the last moments here when I heard a voice and almost screamed. Damn it!

I turned around and Zale was there. He stood there in his blue scrubs and paper hat. Our eyes met and I wanted to cry. He rushed to me like a long lost lover. I mean it. He flung himself at me without a word and hugged me so tight. I dropped the rag I was using and hugged him back without a word.

It was the tightest, longest and most meaningful hug of my life. I ran my hands through his hair, knocking his hat off, who gave a fuck. His hands moved up and down my back, his mouth was on my neck and we just held each other.

I have no idea how long this hug lasted.

I don't.

Not near long enough, for sure.

I wanted it to be the rest of my life. I could have died in this room, in his arms.

It meant more to me than anything in my life. I mean that. Nothing else mattered to me. Not my life, not my family, not my husband, not my kids... nothing. I reveled in this moment frozen in time. I implanted this into my brain. I held onto this moment. I tattooed it into my long term memory as it was happening. I wanted to live here forever.

I never wanted to leave his arms. I wanted him more than everything. I wanted to forget all that I was and just be with him. I loved him. I loved him more than anything or anyone... more than anyone I ever thought that I loved.

I fell in love with him. I had no fucking idea how. I didn't know. I had no idea that I was in love with this man but I was.

Zale sighed as he whispered. "I have to go."

"I know. Where is your first assignment taking you?" I was curious and wanted to talk. We never talked about his travel nurse assignment.

His hands were flat on the middle of my back, holding on. He slowly closed his fists around my scrub top, pulling me closer. I didn't fight that. I held on.

"Cape Code." Zale's mouth was still pressed to my neck and I loved it.

"That's far. When?" My mouth touched his neck.

Zale buried his face into my neck and he held on tighter. "Next week."

I nodded. "Me too. I leave next week."

Zale nodded.

We both just inhaled and exhaled for what felt like days. His hands were plastered onto my back and mine were still in his thick raven black hair. He held me so tight like his life depended on this hug.

I felt so anchored in that moment.

"I.." I wanted to say it. I love you.

Zale nodded and I heard him inhale. "Me too."

What? I couldn't ask. Did he mean that he loved me too? Fuck!

I held onto him. We were just in the room, breathing. We were both holding on to this moment as long as we could. We just held on.

I heard him inhaled and sigh. "Jerek... I have to leave. I will always..."

I nodded. "Me too. Never be alone, huh?"

Zale chuckled. "Nope. I will always be thinking about you."

I nodded. "Me too. I will never stop thinking about you."

Zale inhaled again and we hadn't moved. "I should.."

I knew this was over.

I nodded.

And we let go.

I looked into his chocolate brown eyes and memorized his smile. It was sad but it was there. I smiled back as I held in tears. I would fucking love him forever.

Fuck!

Zale nodded and inhaled. He picked up his paper hat that I knocked off, slowly turned and walked away. I watched his narrow hips one last time as he vanished.

I stood in that room while my music played and I cried. I cried like I had never cried before, like the love of my life just left me. I mourned for this loss. I knew he was gone and my heart was broken. I would never see him again.

Never.

I finished the room in tears. I couldn't stop crying. I looked up once and saw Anouk, Zale's best friend. I thought he was going to come in but thank all the stars that he didn't. I had just gathered myself and I would have lost it again. He half smiled at me, nodded and walked off. He was like a brother to me and I couldn't say goodbye to him. I would love him forever too but not the same way.

I turned off all the lights for the last time, changed, cleaned out my locker and found a note with three words. Those three words. It was unsigned but I knew.

I loved him too.

I clocked out one last time and walked to my car. I sat in my car and cried for like an hour. Zale held me so tight and I could still feel his hands on me. I would love him for the rest of my life and then after.