Empath

I could feel his warmth the day we met. I fell in love with the glowing feeling that grew in my chest when I looked into his eyes. I fell in love with the way he loved me--I could feel the adoration, the excitement, the joy he felt when we were together. I could feel his love for me as well as I could feel my love for him.

I could feel his excitement the night he proposed. I knew what was coming because I could feel his apprehension, even before he arrived on my doorstep. I could feel his relief and his joy when I said yes.

I could feel his fear that afternoon by the sea, when I placed his hand on my stomach and told him that he would be a father. It felt cold and frightened, and my heart skipped the same beat as his did, and for the first time, feeling what he felt made him seem far away.

I could feel his longing the night we sat on the porch, staring at the stars. I could feel his regret, and his guilt, and his distance. I could feel every one of his emotions, and he had never felt so far away.

I could feel his sadness and guilt and regret the day he boarded the ship, but I could never forget the feeling of his excitement and joy and relief as it took off for the stars. I've remembered the feeling of that sickening joy every day since.

I could only feel my own tears fall the day his body returned to Earth. I could only feel my own heart ache the day we lowered him into the ground. But I never felt anything from him again.