“What’re you saying?” He asked gently, his voice a scared whisper. His dark brown eyes were filled with concern.

“I-…I’m saying…” She sighed, her eyes falling from his for a moment. “I don’t…I don’t think I’m ready to be loved by you. You’ve treated me right in every possible way, and…well…I just don’t think I deserve you.” Her own eyes, deep green and filled with anguish, looked at the ground. Conflicting emotions broiled inside of her, turning her this way and that. She was ready to scream by that point.

“Wh-What? Of course you ‘deserve’ me!” He exclaimed quickly in response, his voice shaky. “I’m not anything special! I’m just…” His voice trailed off for a moment before his shoulders slumped, and his eyes drifted to the ground as well. “I’m just a normal guy…” His quiet voice finished sadly.

She hesitated, unsure of what to say, and then her eyes dared to drift up, and she found herself staring at the dejected boy. “No,” she said finally, her own voice flowing and gentle like the waves on the beachside. “No, you’re not just some normal guy. The first time I ever wondered what it was like to love, and to /be/ loved, you came and taught me. When I…when I first wondered if I was pretty, you told me I was /beautiful/.” She sighed softly, her brows furrowing together as her eyes began to drift down again.

Meanwhile, the boy’s eyes looked up a bit, attentive to the girl. “And…you’ve been with me through so much, and been through so much pain because of me. I-..” Her voice cut off as the boy’s gentle hand cupped her cheek, and then the soft, warm touch of his lips on hers ceased all worries in her mind. She felt and thought of nothing but the warmth of his hand, and the touch of his lips on hers.

Finally, after what felt to her like hours, the kiss slowly parted. “I’ve been through all of that with you because I /love/ you,” came his deep, gentle voice. “I want to be with you forever, and all I’m asking is that you let me be a part of your world just as much as you’re a part of mine.”