He started shaking his head as his smile grew even bigger. Somehow I knew that the look on his face was one of surprise. Like he had just realized something profound, and it shocked him. As I stared at him, his eyes twinkled. He looked... happy. Unbelievably happy.
Then he spoke the most genuine four words I had ever heard. He said, "I really love you." Except he exhaled as he spoke the word "really". It almost sounded like a laugh, but I knew it was actually an expression of disbelief. Or relief at finally realizing something profound. It was as if he couldn't comprehend just how true the words were even as he uttered them.
Somehow, those simple words contained so much raw, unfiltered emotion that they slammed into me like a truck, making my entire body vibrate. I stared at him. My brot
