ORLANDO, Fla. — Six years later, Orlando’s darkest day was lit up with love. Their families, survivors and community members gathered at the Pulse memorial site on Sunday to remember the 49 people brutally who lost their lives on June 12, 2016 at the Pulse nightclub after a gunman opened fire.

Michael Morales looked at pictures and soaked in the moment. Pulse is a familiar site, more familiar than he’d like.

“I almost died that night,” he said. 

Morales always has a cane by his side now. The way he walks might never be the same after that day. A police officer dragged the registered nurse from Tampa out of Pulse after Morales was shot four times in his legs, and he wants to one day meet the cop who saved him that night and thank him in person. 

Morales stayed in the hospital for 40 days and has had to endure 21 surgeries in total.

“They saved my right leg,” Morales added. “They were going to cut it through the tibia.”

But most importantly, he lost his first true love there, Martín Benítez Torres, who died in his arms.

“And he stopped and he told me, ‘Baby I am going to die.… I just want to let you know that I love you’,” Morales recalled.  

Fast forward six years, and people filled the Pulse site. A few left behind messages, some passed out flowers, and others embraced as they commemorated their loved ones. Music and affirmative words were part of the memorial.

“Orlando responded with love, compassion and unity,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said. 

As for Morales, he’s tattooed a quote Martín would share with him often.

The tattoo reads, “If God takes my sight, it’s because he’s allowed me to see all of the world’s beauty — you.” 

It’s his way to never forget, he said.  

“I wanted to survive, I wanted to regain my life,…” Morales said. “And I wanted to walk and dance. Because I am going to walk for two. I want to walk for Martín, too, and I want to dance for him, too.” 

Morales said he has so much left to give. He’s working on his master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner and looking for a scholarship to further his studies. He said he would love to continue helping people, so that he can show the world that love conquers all.