his hands could never reach him. i love you, he said. but i don’t love you, the other answered, a cold smile on his lips. don’t say that, he tought, it’s okay, he said. it’s okay because how could he ever fight him or say no to him? he could never say no, not to those eyes. he could live without love, yeah, he could. he could live without a lot of things if it kept him close somehow. you’re pathetic, tao said, before kissing him.