There she was, at 4am, in your bed. You loved her then, didn’t you? She was wearing your duvet like a cape, with her head poking out. She loved you back; she really did.

You said, “I don’t know what to do. I’ve never met anyone like you.”

She said simply, “kiss me.”

So you did. You lifted her chin and kissed her mouth and swallowed her giggles whole. You felt her sunshine fill your lungs as she wrapped her arms around your neck. You felt the duvet fall as she leant forward.

“Tell me a secret,” she said.

She was always saying these things.

“I’ve told you everything already,“ you said. Your lips were on her neck.

“Tell me a secret,” she repeated.

“Okay,” you sighed, “I love you.”

“Tell me a secret.“

“I’ve always loved you.”