“Breathless, I gazed into his eyes. “I love you Ollie. No matter what happens, never forget that. I will always love you. You have a piece of my heartforever.”Beaming at me the tip of his nose touched mine as his forehead rested against my own. “I love you too Layla. You’ve had my heart since themoment you looked up at me from the hallway floor. You always will.”

“I’ll wait for you Layla. Forever if I have to; because there will never be anyone else for me. You are my only love and I won’t give up fighting for you.”

“I will never be through with you, ever. I don’t know what I have to do to get you to realize that you’re myeverything. I exist to love you, you’re my meaning of life, my reason to be, you were made for me and I was made to make you mine. What we haveis too important to me to just throw away because of a picture and an incorrect quote. But you have got to have some faith in me Layla. I wouldnever hurt you, you have to know that. I may get angry, lose my temper and storm away but I will always calm down and I will always come back. Icould never leave you behind. I’d be lost without you.”

“Jared, I was never going to give up on you, itwas never an option. I love you too. I know I may not say it, or show it the way I should but never ever doubt how I feel about you. You’re oxygen and Ican’t breathe without you.” Taking his free hand I placed it on my chest and pressed it against my own thundering heart. “And this will always belongto you. I could never give it to anyone else. Your name is carved on my heart Jared and it can’t beat without you. I love you, completely, entirely anddesperately”

“Layla. I don’t know how you feelabout me. I hope you feel as deeply as I do, but I knew the moment I saw you how I felt. It hit me like a bolt of lightning right here.” He pressed mypalm against his chest, just above his heart. I drew in a sharp breath. “Layla I’m falling for you. I’m deeply, madly and completely head over heels foryou. You’re mine and I want to take care of you. Please, let me give you things while I can, let me spoil you and treat you the way you deserve. Likea queen. My queen. I…” He took a long breath while I held mine in anticipation of his next heart stopping words.“…I love you Layla.”

“...I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to you Layla. But you should know there will never be anyone else for me. Aslong as you’re walking this earth, the shattered pieces of my wasted heart will love you forever. You’re my girl Layla.”

“Wrap yourself in the sheets tightly. Feel that? Those are my arms around your waist, my head against yours and my heart beating in time with the thunder of your heart. I’m there baby. Maybe not in body but I am there with you constantly. You carry my heart on your sleeve Layla and it keeps me close to you. No matter where I am, however far apart we are, I carry you with me. You are never too far for my heart. We’re bound together.”