I remember when you first said you hated me.

I recall the feeling of your fist connecting with my jaw – you would scowl at my smile, glare hotly and curse my name and my family.

"Get the hell out of my sight, Auditore." You would snarl, your lips pulled back to bare your teeth like an animal. "I hate you." Such talk, spouted from that pretty mouth. I know all too well that same mouth was better suited for other things… but ah well.

You were wary at first, arguing, forcing me away. And I would laugh – you always did seem to hate my laugh – and I would merely smile. It was my kiss that seemed to sway you – despite how you forced me away at first. I remember the blood on my lips when I first kissed you, and you bit me.

My second kiss wasn't rejected, even if you would never admit it. You tensed and growled under my mouth, but persistence has always been my strong point. I forced you to accept my kiss. Our tongues met briefly – all too brief – before you bit me again. But honestly, amore mio…did you expect me to back away after you had so clearly enjoyed the feel of my lips against yours? "You're disgusting – I hate you."

And so our games began. You did play your part so well. I would kiss you, and you would pretend you hated it. I would caress you, and you would strive to hide your pleasure. And when we made love, you bit your lip and tangled your fingers in my hair, burying your face against my neck to hide the quiet noises I made you make.

Is it wrong to say I admired you all my life?

I loved you. I said it from the beginning. The look on your face when I confessed – your cheeks grew hot, and you reacted with anger, not understanding. "The hell you love me." Ah, but I do. "Well I hate you."

I remember when finally, finally you stopped the physical resistance. I remember when it was you who sought me out, you who chased my lips for a kiss, you who pinned me against a wall and demanded I satisfy you. I never denied you, not once. I never left you unsatisfied. Even if you never admitted it to me, or yourself, we were lovers. We are lovers.

I only wish I had more time to say goodbye. I had thought you wouldn't come, that you would stay away, but you did always concern yourself with your public appearance. I should have known better than to expect otherwise.

So now, as I feel the noose lay loosely against my throat, our eyes meet. Yours are hard and seemingly unfeeling, but even from a distance I can spot how tightly your jaw is clenched. You don't want to watch this. But you have to.

And…I'm glad you're here.

Unable to resist one last smile, I meet your eyes, and see you flinch. Though you can't hear it, I know you can read the silent words of love I'm mouthing. I know you can 'hear' my voice in your ear, despite our distance.

If only I could freeze time in this moment, so that I never had to stop saying 'I love you'.

But as I see the executioner grasp the lever out of the corner of my eye, my smile doesn't falter, my eyes are locked on yours. I wouldn't dare blink; I'm engraving your image in my mind.

I'm glad to have your face as my final memory, Vieri.