Sudden urge to write this. Blame the music, damn you! Oh well:

Honestly, I don't know why I try so hard any more. Putting up with all of your quirks, quams, and other appropriate "q" words is starting to irritate me. The way that you would crunch at your morning breakfast cereal to some sort of beat or rhythm. It's almost as if you're trying to make eating melodic... how you can achieve that I have no clue.

And then how you would always insist on sleeping while facing the window. With the same two pillows to cushion your head. The same two pillows you insist on keeping separate whenever I'm busy washing the sheets and linens. Having shared as much of ourselves as we have already, one would think that you wouldn't mind which particular pillow you got for that night. But no, you insist on the same set of everything. Dishes, papers, pens, jackets, and even those little bar bells for whenever you feel the urge to work out. By the way, those things are still covered in dust. Everything is always separate. Sometimes I can't help but feel that, when I first moved into your home, you wanted to keep some line of division to keep all our things separate. I can tell you this, it irritates me.

Your anal retentiveness irritates me.

Hell, you irritate me!

... I'm sorry. I didn't mean that.

Really, it's stupid that I bring this up. I know where my loyalties will lie at the end of the day. You can find them in our bed, wrapped around your waist or across your shoulders. Because as much as you irritate me sometimes... as much as I threaten to end things... well, that was just that one time. Still, the fact that I would suggest splitting up.

Never mind.

But what I was trying to say was... At the end of the day I can always forgive you. I can forgive your attempt at turning breakfast into some sort of STOMP act. I can forgive your need for separation when it comes to our personal things. Hell, there's one line of division I'm very thankful for: the one in our bathroom. I enjoy my clean half of the sink, thank you very much.

How can I forgive you? I was just getting to that.

Well, now that you've posed the question, that kinda ruins the whole flow I was trying to get.

... No, I'm not trying to... Yes, I guess I am stalling to figure out what I'm going to say. Okay then, how about this?

I can forgive everything that irritates me about you because... They're just part of you. There, I said it. What, be more precise? You're walking a fine line here, mister.

Um... You could say that... Well...

Do you really want me to elaborate?

... Fine.

For starters, I never criticized your emotions or personality. Well, except for your anal retentiveness, but I guess I'm no stranger to that one huh? But, I understand you. And I respect who you are. I know I don't say it that often, but I do.

What? No I'm not... oh, shush! I was just getting to the good part.

So yes, I understand you. I'm getting the feeling that you don't believe me. Ha! See, there's you're proof! I knew what you were thinking!

... All joking aside, yes I do understand who you are. Where you've been. Why you keep...

Don't want me to talk about that huh? I won't then.

But I will say this: I know exactly what you want or need at any given moment... Can we just please skip the perverse subcontext commentary for now? Oh, sorry... I guess you weren't going to comment about what I just said. Sorry.

Um... So... Do you remember that night?

You do? Then I won't have to go through the painful details.

Yes, so that night. Perfect example of what I've been saying. After... well, after that whole ordeal, you were absolutely stoic. I couldn't even here you breathe or see your chest rising and falling. It scared me how statue-like you were. I couldn't think of anything else to do or to say, because I knew I would only make matters worse.

So, I crept up to your standing figure, and wrapped my arms around you. And when I felt your embrace still lingering, hands limp against your side, my arms only tightened their hold of you. Like you were some sort of... I don't know... something that I knew I had to keep in my grasp unless I lost you.

A firefly? Yes... you could say that I wanted to keep you like a firefly. A bit odd, don't you think?... Sorry.

But I knew that's what you wanted. I knew that despite your cold exterior and general aire of disassociation... you really wanted me to be with you that night.

... Thank you. I feel better now that you've said something about--

What?! You don't remember that hug I gave you! Well... I'm hurt.

But that's okay. Because I know you.

I... no! I am NOT trying to avoid that word. Still, you can't make me say it!

No. Will. Not. Say. It.

...

Ha! Thought I was gonna, huh? Nope you've got me all wrong!

Besides, you know I'll never use the word love unless I mean it.

... Oh hell, you got me to say it.

...

Fine, I'll say it.

I understand you.

I respect you.

All because I loved you.

Are you happy?

Well... I'm happy I said it too.

No, I'm being serious! Seriously!

... Stop that. I just might smile.