“If anything happened to you— I couldn’t…”
“Promise me. Promise me you’ll stay.”
“You’re not breathing. Breathe.”
“You’re safe with me, now.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“No matter what, I will always come after you.”
“Take my hand— and stay close.”
“You’re shaking. Here, come closer.”
“Sorry, when I didn’t didn’t see you, I got worried.”
“You look exhausted. Come here.”
“Rest now. I’ll be here when you wake.”
[touches forehead] “You’re burning up!”
“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
“You always do that. Pull away when I get close. What are you afraid of?”
“For once, will you just look at me?”
“I can’t stay here with you— I just, when I’m around you, I can’t think. You make me dizzy… you make me weak.”
[traces fingers over scars, sitting in the firelight, watching the flames jump and bend to the music of the wind]
“I’ve never noticed this scar before.”
“When you touch me, it’s like I can’t breathe.”
“I just love being near you.”
“Wait! Please— I’m sorry, just— wait.”
“There’s something about you that makes me smile.”
“I’ve never felt like this before. It only happens when I’m with you.”
“Where are you goin? I saved you a spot.”
“Are you feeling okay? Your face is looking a little red.”
[leaning close, knees almost touching]
“Hey, you’ve got something on your face. Here, hold still… ”
“Will you stay with me? Tonight? I just— I’d feel better knowing you’re near.”
“I’ve never felt weak. Until I met you.”
“Here, take my hand— don’t look.”
“I’ve got you… just breathe, okay? I know it hurts. We’re almost done.”
[catching the other staring when they think they’re not looking]
“I’ll never get over hearing you say my name.”
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”
[takes hand, puts it over heart] “This is what I feel when I’m with you. And I’m powerless to stop it.”
“Just hearing the sound of your voice is enough to make me smile.”
“Never will they hurt you. As long as I’m alive.”
“If you keep doing that, I’m going to scream— stop smiling, I mean it!”
“Please. Just let me hold you.”
“I never thought I could miss a person as much as I’ve missed you.”
“You make me ache in ways I never felt possible.”
“You don’t get it do you? How can you be so blind! Don’t you understand how much I care about you?”
[grabbing wrist, pulling person behind them, sensing danger]
[wiping tears from the others face]
[that one hand squeeze just before letting go]
“Stay still. You’ve been wounded.”
“Never. Never will I stop loving you.”
“My gut does the weirdest things around you— acrobatic things.”
“You look pale. Are you sure you’re feeling alright?”
“When’s the last time you ate?”
“I thought you might be hungry, so I brought you this.”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”
“I can’t stand the thought of seeing you hurt.”
“This is nice. You and me. Against the world.”
“I choose you— can’t you see? I will always choose you.”
[pulls head on lap, running fingers through hair]
“Till death do us part. And forever until the end of eternity.”
“Do you mind if I come in?”
“Talk to me… I’m worried.”
“You’ve done the unthinkable, you know. You’ve made me fall in love.”
