Anger and hurt flared in his eyes. "Don't you dare make this my fault! I gave everything I had to us. You were just as much 'not there' as I was. And no, I won't deny that things have changed since the end of Rings. We've both been so busy that we can't find our asses with a map."

He breathed deeply, trying to use oxygen to force the pain from his heart. His tone was softer when he spoke again. "I don't want us to be over. You have to meet me half way here. Can you do that? Or am I just pissing in the wind?"

There was no response from the eyes which stared back at him. Their blankness cut a jagged edge across his soul. "Fine. If no answer is your answer, consider this my parting gift." Taking the hand resting on the hood of the car, Orlando placed the ring in the palm, closed the fingers, turned, and walked away.

~End~