RAMON'S ORIGIN

HAZEL

"I wanted to tell you earlier," Ramon says softly, cupping my cheek in his hand. "I don't know why I didn't. I couldn't bring myself to tell you after what happened earlier, I just didn't want you to think I only said that because I got intimate with you." He sighs.

"I guess I was just afraid to tell you, because I haven't said I love you in such a long time-" he explains, but I cut him short. He's nervous. I may not be able to shift, or tell what he's thinking, but anyone that knows Ramon knows that he isn't the type to grow nervous over nothing. So when he does, it's as obvious as a sunflower in a patch of daisies.

My heart swells with joy over his confession. I have been aching to hear him tell me this, but I didn't expect him to ever say it this soon. He hasn't had a chance to really connect with anyone for years. I know he has to be afraid of letting emotions in. He has lost everything that he loves, and I know that he's afraid of losing anything else. He has told me time a