Haskell didn’t miss a beat. “That’s right,” he said calmly. “I can’t even be certain what I’ll be like ten years from now. So, Larissa, while I love you more than anything, you need to make sure you secure every tangible benefit I can offer you. Don’t ever settle for just my affection.”
“Deal,” she said without hesitation. “I can handle being hurt emotionally, but I refuse to be hurt financially.”
She admired his honesty. Human desire was a fickle thing. The poor wanted to be rich, the bored craved excitement, and those living on the edge yearned for peace. A person’s heart was always in flux.
“Do you think I’m too rational, Haskell?” she asked.
“What’s wrong with being rational?” he replied. “It’s good for you, and that’s all that matters.”
She laughed. “You’re right. How could I doubt myself? This is who I am. I don’t know how to be anything but rational.”
“And that’s what I love about you,” Haskell admitted freely.
Larissa smiled, a genuine, warm smile. “Alright, your legs still need to heal. You should get some rest. I’m going to sleep too.”
“Goodnight, Larissa.”
“Goodnight, Haskell.”
She ended the call, plugged in her phone, and turned off the lights. Lying in the darkness, she stared at the ceiling. She was falling deeply for Haskell, and she hoped, with all her heart, that his feelings would never change. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.
…
After the call ended, the room fell silent. Haskell looked at the screen, at the record of his video call with Larissa, and a sudden emptiness washed over him. He closed his eyes, overcome with a desperate longing to hold her in his arms.


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