Ethan closes his eyes when she says his name like that, and he only looks at her again when she speaks. He leans into her touch, into her hands as they cradle the sides of his face.

His hand slips over her own, and he swallows thickly. "I blame... me for it even though I know it's-- I can't turn back time and change anything that happened," Ethan says softly, and his eyes burn as he leans into her. Their foreheads rest against each other as he closes his eyes there against her. He knows he needs to let it go. "I know I need to let it go, to forgive... myself. It's so hard to-- to not hate that time."

When they were so far apart, he regrets it helplessly so even if he is exactly where he wants to be now and he knows without a doubt where he is meant to be, who he wants.

"I love you."