236 Love is Gentle

- RORY -

"Why do you do this?" I laugh softly, unsure of what to say now. Luciano just said he loved me again. 

"Do what?" The question is an honest one. He's genuinely wondering what I mean. There's no teasing or sarcasm in it. 

"You have to make this final or something. Like I'm the last one, the only one. There's no indecision or… or doubt." 

"That's right," he says softly, and the sound of his voice is so beautiful. It makes me ache. 

"But…" I look around for some help, for some explanation as to why that seems so terrifying to me. "It's just, it's so soon. And like I said, you don't know me. Not really. Not all of it." 

"I know enough that I'm certain… whatever else there is, it's not going to scare me away. I'm here to battle it with you." 

"What if it's not a battle?" I ask desperately. "What if it's just pain? And heartache? And depths that are hard to dig myself out of? What then?"