Boys

"You're in love with her, aren't you?"

He smiles and tears his gaze from her to meet mine. "Of course I am, and you aren't?" There isnt a trace of sarcasm or lightness in his voice: he is completely serious -- and you aren't?

"Well, no, but I suppose I can see why you are." I reply, as he chuckles dryly.

"You suppose you can see why..." he murmurs, more to himself than anything, and lowers his eyes so that he can once again stare adoringly at the sleeping girl.

"She is beautiful," I say in an effort to redeem myself, "and she's very kind, and intelligent."

"Oh I know," he cuts me off, "but she's so much more." he smiles and twines a strand of her hair around his fingers. "She's someone you never know you need, until you meet her, and she's someone you never know you won't be able to live without, until you lose her."

"Does she love you, too?" I have to know, I realize, surely, she loves him back, she must.

"In her own little way, she does." he frowns.