still friends?

"can - can we still be friends?" she pleaded, grateful for the dim lighting that hid the wetness of her eyes, "i - i don't want to lose you completely."

for a moment, he thought about all the things he wanted to say: that he just wasn't in love with her, that he was suffocated by her, that he wished he'd never crossed that line.. but none of those words came. he stifled them, refusing to consider himself so hurtful.

instead, he reached across the table, took her hands in his, and lied, "of course we can be friends. you'll never lose me."