HOW DO I LIVE

How Do I Live

 Lisa Ann Cox 


 ------------------------------------------------------------------------






 Face opened to the door of the bedroom and entered. He saw Elissa 
 standing by the window and smiled. Elissa, hearing the door open, turned 
 and, seeing Face, smiled. 

 Silently, Face walked over to the dresser, where he turned on a radio 
 station that played soft rock. Then he walked back to Elissa where he 
 enveloped her in his arms. 

 "Hello, Beautiful." 

 Elissa said nothing, but gave him a hug in return. 

 As Face took Elissa into his arms, the soft sounds of the LeAnn Rimes 
 remake of the Trisha Yearwood song "How Do I Live" came over the 
 airwaves into the tiny bedroom.
  
 How do I get through one night without you? 
 If I had to live without you, 
 What kind of life would that be?

 Face looked down at Elissa and smiled. She was so beautiful, he loved 
 everything about her. From her warm brown eyes, to her porcelain skin, 
 to her pert little nose that was the home of three small freckles. There 
 would never be anyone else like her in his life. 

 Oh I, need you in my arms, need you to hold. 
 You are my world, my heart, my soul. 
 If you ever leave, 
 Baby you would take away everything good in my life.


 Face hugged Elissa closer. He couldn't imagine his life without her. 
 Elissa laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled closer, sighing 
 softly. Face kissed her temple and ran his fingers through her silky 
 brown hair.
  
 And tell me now, 
 How do I live without you? 
 I want to know. 
 How do I breathe without you? 
 If you ever go. 
 How do I ever, ever survive? 
 How do I, how do I, oh, how do I live?


 *Oh, God, how I love you*, thought Face. *I'll never be able to tell or 
 show you how much. I never dreamed that I could ever love someone as 
 much as I love you.*
  
 He looked down and saw Elissa looking up at him. Reaching up, Elissa 
 kissed Face on the cheek. Then she laid her head back on his shoulder 
 and snuggled into the crook where his neck net his shoulder blade.
  
 Without you, 
 There would be no sun in my sky, 
 There would be no love in my life, 
 There'd be no world left for me.


 Face started dancing slower. So slow, they were almost standing still. 
 Face closed his eyes and smiled. He remembered the first time Elissa 
 called his name. It was like music to his ears. He thought about all the 
 times they were together. About the times when she fell asleep with her 
 head on his chest while sitting on the couch,. About the times when they 
 were just together and did nothing at all. 

 And I, baby, I don't know what I would do. 
 I'd be lost if I lost you. 
 Baby, you would take away everything real in my life. 
 And tell me now, 
 How do I live without you? 
 I want to know. 
 How do I breathe without you? 
 If you ever go. 
 How do I ever, ever survive?


 Face led Elissa over to the night stand where he bent down and turned on 
 a small lamp. Next he led her over to the light switch by the door, 
 which he turned off. The small lamp sent shadows across the room. And 
 outside the window the lavender-peach of the sunset could be seen. Face 
 sighed and rested his cheek on the top of Elissa's head. 

 Please tell me baby, how do I go on? 
 If you ever leave, 
 Baby you would take away everything 
 Need you with me. 
 Baby don't you know that you are 
 Everything good in my life? 
 And tell me now, 
 How do I live without you? 
 I want to know. 
 How do I breathe without you? 
 If you ever go. 
 How do I ever, ever survive? 
 How do I, how do I, oh how do I live? 
 How do I live without you? 
 How do I live without you, baby? 
 How do I live without you?


 As the song ended, Face looked down to find Elissa sleeping in his arms. 
 Ever so gently he carried her over to the bed an laid her upon it. He 
 kissed her forehead and she sighed a smiled in her sleep. Quietly, Face 
 walked over to the dresser and turned off the radio. Just as quietly, he 
 walked over to the doorway, stopped, and turned to blow a kiss to his 
 sleeping daughter.