After that moment with Barbara, he never got a response from her. He knew then that it was already over — a failure — and he lost all hope. After that kiss, he had been ready for everything. Every word in that letter was exactly what he meant from the heart.

In time, he met you. You got to know each other, and slowly, you both fell in love. He forgot about Barbara — though she remained a friend — but in his weary heart, there was only you. He needed you more than he’d ever needed anyone. You even accepted him as the Red Hood.

“Soft tummy…” he mumbles into your shoulder as he sits behind you, arms wrapped around your waist. He loved every inch of you — so much it gave him butterflies. He was so in love…

“My sweet, precious girl… come on, put down that fucking phone… and just hug me.”