Disclaimer: I do not have any rights to The Office or its characters. If I did, Pam wouldn't have left the wedding with Roy.

What I want from us

Is empty our minds

We fake a fuss

And fracture the times

We go blind

When we've needed to see

And it leans on me,

Like a rootless...

Damien Rice, Rootless Tree

He watched her, across the aisle, brown silk cascading down her legs.

She looked like Pam (full of secrets and thoughts and things too complicated to say).

But then, she didn't.

And he wasn't sure why.

He knew this had to be hard for her.

And he wondered if she was thinking of Roy.

He wondered if she was thinking of him...

There were moments - always had been - when he was sure she was.

Oh, I'm such a dorky dancer.

I know. It's very cute.

He'd noticed her eyes, mirroring his own.

It felt like hope.

Hypothetically, if I thought Pam was interested, then... no, it's totally hypothetical.

Walking away, out of frame, was the only option.

He wouldn't fall down again.

(Whether he wanted to or not.)

Not unless she fell first.

And he thought maybe she was.

Just a little.

Because he caught her, watching him dance with Karen, and recognized that look...

The one he used to (always will) wear, when she was with Roy.

He willed her to speak, but saw her shrink away.

It felt like defeat.

Hers or his, he wasn't sure.

Until the end of the night.

He felt the brush of someone passing, saw fingers intertwined.

There was red behind his eyes.

Screw her weakness.

And his.

Here's a non-hypothetical. I'm really happy I'm with Karen.

It felt like hell and thrashing.

It felt like desperation.