Really Can

He studied her expression, searched her eyes for comprehension, but she looked dazed, confused. He cursed himself. She was still hurt, still tired, needed time to heal --

But then the haze in her eyes vanished and she nodded once, sharply. “I understand.”

“Then you know what you must do,” he said.

“I do.”

She sat back, considering his words, and he let her, knew that what he’d asked her might be untenable.

“Can I really do this?” she asked finally.

He met her gaze. “What? Of course you can! I --” wouldn’t love you if you were that weak. “You can.”