When you first met Roger as a customer at the café that you worked in, you instantly felt a connection with him. He started to make it a regular stop, coming by practically any day that you were on shift, and you ended up spending more and more time until he invited you to go for a drink at a different café after your shift. You instantly agreed, probably too eagerly but he didn't seem to be turned off by your excitement at the sound of a date with him.

The first date went well as did the subsequent ones until it got to the point where you were wondering why he hadn't asked to make the relationship official and for you to be his girlfriend. You weren't going to press the issue but that didn't mean it didn't continue to play on your mind.

Early that day you had received a call to the landline that you had to wrangle from your nosy sister's hands to hear Roger asking you to come to his loft, where you had visited a couple of times, to talk. You couldn't tell from his tone if he was going to tell you to never talk to him again or if he was going to ask you to be his girlfriend but either way you went to meet him there and hoped for the best.

He guided you to the tatty old sofa that was now made out of more patching than the original fabric and sat down beside you there.

"I have really enjoyed spending time with you," he started. "It's honestly been the happiest time I've had since I can remember."

You offered him a weak smile, still not certain if this was going to be a good or bad conversation. "I've been really enjoying our time too."

He let out a little sigh. "And I have wanted to ask you to officially date me but there's some information that you need to know first before you are in a place where you can agree if you were to want to, as it would not be fair to keep this a secret."

You could see the nerves fill him. "It's okay," you assured him. "Take your time."

"Two years ago, I was diagnosed as HIV positive," he whispered. "I understand if you don't want to be with me anymore as it is something that will always be part of my life and will negatively affect yours if you were to be with me."

It wasn't what you were expecting him to say but it also wasn't worse or better than anything you were anticipating.

"Thank you for feeling like you could tell me, it must have been hard to do so," you said. "And I want you to know that it will not change how I feel about you."

He paused, cocking an eyebrow at you. "How could it not change how you feel?"

"I love having you in my life Roger and if that means we are going to be friends or partners, either way I don't want you to leave my life. No matter where you go, how long you're gone, even if you fall in love with someone else, I will always be here for you. Always. Please never doubt that."

"Do you really mean that?" He questioned.

You nodded your head. "I'm not going anywhere. You are stuck with me."

~*~

Written by Charlotte.

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