From the play "The Sweep"
Character: FRANK, M. 45. A ladies man, or so he thinks. A good-time Charley. Doesn't slow down for much.
(Johnson is Frank's gay best friend.)
FRANK: If you open that file, you're going to see a letter . . . a letter that no one should ever, ever read but you, and I mean it. And that letter . . . that letter tells you that I love you . . . And that letter tells you that for years, I was IN love with you, but worked really hard to not feel that. And that I know you spent years yourself quietly wishing, wondering, hoping, maybe even praying that I would love you the way I know you loved me. But I couldn't do it, Johnson; I just couldn't for a hundred fucked up reasons. So I worked really hard to honor how I was raised, and to never have to present that to my parents or my sister, and to not be the object of fuckin' heartless chat around my office, and to not live my life afraid that someone would discover a side of my life I wanted to keep hidden. I worked incredibly hard not to love you. And believe me, that's not easy because you're so fuckin' loveable. But I didn't want that life with you. I am… a coward. (Steps backwards, closer to Johnson.) Before I turn around, I'm going to give you a moment to wipe your eyes because I know you're crying and shit. I can't … I just can't bear to see that. (Choking up.) The reason I never gave you the letter is because the letter was for me, to remind me to love you in the safest but sweetest way possible.