Ok, here's what happened...

I used to spend a lot of time just hanging out at his "house". It wasn't really a house, exactly, it was the manager's apartment of a motel that was located in the worst part of town. His mom and his step-father were managers at that place and it was no place for a young 8 year old boy, that's for sure. But his parents were good friends of mine, so I would go there and hang out and talk for a while after work. Well, after some time, "L" and I began to talk because his parents would be too busy running the motel or fighting each other (unfortunately it was the fighting that seemed to be happening more and more at that time.). Well, one day I was sitting at thier dining room table talking to his mom and he just kept staring at me. Then he said, "I don't know why, but I sure do like you." After a while he walked around the table and stood there in front of me for a few minutes. Then he surprised the heck out of me by throwing his arms around me and saying those three wonderful words.."I love you!!!". I was in such shock that I didn't know what to do, I just sat there and said, "um...ok...". Of course later on I would return his "I love you" many, many times over with my own hugs and "I love you, 'L'". It was the beginning of the most beautiful relationship I have ever known and it all began with those three words. Yes it is a memory I will treasure forever!