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I opened my mouth, about to say some other shit to try to change the subject but couldn’t.

“I love you,” I uttered lowly.

I blinked, and Yeremy’s mouth fell open. I looked away for a second, my mouth was still slightly opened like the wordscouldn’t be sucked back in. I meant that shit. My tongue pressed against the back of my teeth, I cursed myself inwardly, thinking that I said that shit too soon.

“Say it again, Sol,” she whispered, stepping close to me.

“I love you,” I said it louder.

“You really mean it?” Her lip trembled, and her eyes glistened.

“Yeah, I do.” I nodded my head.

Her chest rose like she had to inhale the moment to believe it.

“I love you too,” she said softly, voice shaking.

“I just didn’t want to be the first to say it. I really didn’t know if I could trust it, but I feel it Sol…I feel it so much that it scares me.” She casted her eyes down to the carpet.

“Why?”

“Because it’s easy to love someone when they’re perfect. When they untouched…but I come with baggage, fear, trauma…and you…you’re not a saint, Sol.” She raised her perfectly arched brows at me.

I chuckled and shook my head in agreement with her.

“I’m definitely not and will never pretend to be. You shouldn’t either. I love you just the way you are,” I told her.

“I love you because you make me feel safe and seen. You make me feel like all the ugly parts of me got a home with you. The way you look at me, and the way that you challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone just to see me smile. Besides, who you have to be in the streets, you don’t act that way with me. You’ve opened up, you talk more, and I could see the love in your eyes every time we together. I also love you because you not afraid of Casper.” She giggled and blushed hard.

I scooted closer to the edge of the bed and reached for her hand. I gripped them firmly and looked her in the eyes.

“I love you, Yeremy because I’ve been surrounded by snakes, liars and people who only want what I have. Not who I am. Notstreet Sol, the nigga that can make shit happen. Just me. You’re not afraid to call me out when I’m wrong. You look me in the eyes and confirm your feelings. You laugh like the world still got some good in it…sometimes that shit makes me believe it too. You are the peace that I learned to appreciate and treasure. I can’t get that shit from nowhere else but you. I tell myself every day to not mess this up. I know I love you ’cause I refuse to lose you. The very thought of that, makes me experience fear, Ma.”

I brought her hands up to my lips and kissed them.

“Then let’s never mess this up and make it last forever.”

The End!