Daniel flinched slightly and his shoulders tensed for a moment. "I.. I thought telling you... it felt like goodbye and I didn't want the last thing I said to you to be..." He let out a shaky breath. "That was the last thing I said to my parents and Ally, before they died. I love you."
He shook his head and looked away. "I know, it's.. stupid.. irrational.. but it was there, it was.. I thought if I said it and you left, I'd never see you again and I.. See what I mean stupid."
He ran a hand over his face. "I'm sorry. I know now, I should have told you. I... someone we met on the way, they regretted never saying the words to the person they loved. I should have told you. There aren't any excuses."