“I love you.”

“Why?”

“What?”

“We’ve known each other for so long. Why here? Why now?”

“I don’t know. I guess I was too scared before.”

“You guess?”

“Yes, what do you want me to say? I fell in love with you the first time I saw you that you made my heart skip a beat and I lost all my senses.”

“That’s good for a start.”

“For a start! God, you’re unbelievable. After fifteen years, I tell you I love you and then you ask why and when I tell you, you say it’s a good start. WHAT more do you want?”

“If you love me why do you find it so hard to talk to me; to admit your feelings?”

“You’ve spent your whole life around feelings. Built a career around them; I haven’t.”

“I know. But it isn’t as difficult as you make it seem.”

“Yes it is.”

“Why?”

“Again with the question.”

“I would stop if you answered it to my satisfaction.”

“I can’t”

“Why?”

“Because, I’m not like you; I can’t bare my soul. It’s… it’s too painful.”

“I know. I can sense that. But did you ever think that if you ‘bared your soul’, the pain could go away? Some ease up once shared.”

“You’re one in a million; you know that?”

“And you’re my Imzadi, remember? Remember what that means: you’re my love; my one and only; my soul mate.”

“I remember.”

“Then why the hesitation?”

“No one has ever asked why before.”

“Because they were satisfied with the words; that’s all they wanted to hear; ‘I love you’, but words without feeling are hollow. I love you because you are a part of me; you make me who I am; and you complete me. And yes, there was a time when I was scared to admit it and I thought I could go on without you. But when I realized I wasn’t me without you, it became a lot easier to accept my fate.”

“What? That you’ll always be alone, because the one you fell in love with would never return your love?”

“No. I’m not alone, now; am I?”

“No. But I can’t…”

“Why?”

“Because when I’m close to you it hurts too much. You have shown me what love is: giving of yourself with no expectations in return, and I selfishly took advantage of it and used you for physical gratification. I didn’t love you, not in the way you believed.”

“You said didn’t; not don’t. What’s changed?”

“You don’t give up; do you? Haven’t I hurt you enough?”

“Yes, it hurt when I saw you with other women. But you’re here, now, and I want to know…”

“Why?”

“Yes. Is it really that much to ask?”

“No. You are my Imzadi and I will always be here for you. Can you ever believe that?”

“Of course I can. I have never doubted that.”

“Then please don’t doubt my sincerity when I say I love you. I do with every fiber in my body… and soul. But right now it’s too soon to answer why. There are a lot of reasons why. I just don’t have the words. I need you to be patient. I still have a long way to go before I can discuss my feelings as freely as you do.”

“You’ve come further than you think, Imzadi; and you’ll always have my patience. It comes with my love for you.