How much do you love me?

A few years ago and up until recently that was the cutest question my partner could have asked me. To which I would reply, “More than the drops in the ocean or the stars in the sky…” or something to that effect.

However now that question is the stupidest question any person can ask. In fact it is a trap! Be careful! The person asking is trying to figure out the condition of your love. What will you love, When will you love, How will you love, Who will you love.
“How much” do you love me?
Isn’t that reserved for when buying a new dress or a new car? As if my love now has a price. You cannot buy my love. Not because you cannot afford it. But simply because it is not for sale. No. I give it freely. Please do not misunderstand. It is free yet does not mean it has no value – yet it doesn’t mean it has value.
I love you.
That’s it really. I sorry there aren’t any bells or whistles.
In fact I do not even love you very much. Nothing + Nothing is equal to Nothing.
If i gave you very much more of nothing, you will have nothing. Infinity + Infinity is equal to Infinity. My love is infinite. I cannot give you more or less of it.
I just give you love.
I love you.
Does it really need an explanation? Bring the Oxford dictionary here Ol’ chap.
Do you need a translator? Oh please – you think my love can be understood?
You think my love can be defined as a noun or a verb or an adjective.
Oh heaven forbid!
I love you!
Can you not feel my words crawl up against your skin and caress you and touch you, feeling its way into your heart where it explodes and leaves you euphoric, leaves you breathless, leaves you – no wait. Not leaves you. Loves you.
I love you. There’s no terms to that. No conditions to that.
Lie to me. Cheat on me. Steal from me. Leave me.
I love you.
“Oh, you must be the silliest human alive to love like that!”
Really? Then you have never loved.
Unless you call conditional love, love. Unless you call love that can be counted by the stars or measured by the depth of the ocean, or the the height of the mountain, love.

Listen.
I love you.

I just love you.

Love,
H