"Why do you even love me?" The words slipped out, barely above a whisper. I wasn't even sure I wanted an answer. How could Elio possibly love me? What about me was worth loving? "You made me feel something I hadn't felt since I was a teenager," he said quietly. "Maybe I'm in love with the idea of being in love with you, but it's real. You make me feel like I can breathe again. And I don't want to lose that. I don't want to lose you." Each word hit like a bullet to the chest, one after another. And for once, I couldn't find anything to say.