I should have said, I love you in the purest of ways. That I cared deeply for you; that I expected nothing from you than what you were willing to give freely.

Your friendship.

But as I lay in your arms, the glow of our lovemaking surrounding us like an aura of blush and holy water beneath the sheets, my transgressive whisper caused a hitch in your breath and I knew I had uttered our sentence. Simple as it was and true as I felt it echo from you as well, I should have explained.

I want you to know that that morning has never left me. From your 2am call, I want you now, until we spoke and laughed on the phone after you returned home – every second, every hour in between, has burned in my mind.

Young Angel.

I will never leave you. You know I am with you even now. What we share is eternal. As pure as the I love you I meant to say.