Page 69 of Inside Out

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.”

The Elizabeth Barrett Browning sonnet became my favorite the first time I read it, but I never expected to recite it to another person as a declaration of my affection. “From the depth of my soul, I love thee, Julius.”

Julius closed his eyes briefly, and the tears that had pooled in them slid down his beautiful face. I reached up and wiped the wet trails away, and he did the same for me. I hadn’t even realized I was crying until then.

“I love you too, Rome. God, do I love you.”

The few inches separating us were suddenly too much. We stepped into each other at the same time. My arms circled his neck while his wrapped around my waist. We weren’t at school, the kids had already gone home, and there was no reason I couldn’t kiss the man I loved. Julius must’ve drawn the same conclusion because our mouths moved together at the same time as if on cue.

“You English lit guys,” Jules said shakily. “Say it again.”

“I love you.”

Later at home, I whispered the words as I ghosted kisses all over his body. Julius repeated them to me as his actions mirrored mine. When we joined our bodies together, we said, “I love you,” at the same time. Two hearts, two souls, and one accord.