Love doesn't actually fade, it just changes. It changes over time that you can no longer recognize it but, if it's true enough, it will always be there. Loving someone doesn't necessarily mean loving him romantically still. You can love a person with the way he is now and not the way he was before. You can always love someone because of such small reasons; you can say you love him because he's great, or he made you happy, or because he remembered you when your favorite song played on the radio. You can always love a person because he taught you how to love in the first place, or maybe you two had a great time when you were together. You can always love someone in a way that you're just truly thankful to have met him or you're glad that he exists. You can always love someone because he was there when you needed someone the most.
You can always show appreciation with such affection as love. Love doesn't have to be heavy in your heart. Love doesn't have to be a burden. Say you love someone because he loves the same music as you. Say you love someone because he knows you in every little thing you do. Or, say you love someone because he taught you how to be brave, he taught you that you can eventually let go and accept the love that he can only offer you now--the love that says, "thank you for everything." The love that says, "thank you for letting me know you, but I am letting you go now. So, thank you. I love you."
You can always show appreciation with such affection as love. Love doesn't have to be heavy in your heart. Love doesn't have to be a burden. Say you love someone because he loves the same music as you. Say you love someone because he knows you in every little thing you do. Or, say you love someone because he taught you how to be brave, he taught you that you can eventually let go and accept the love that he can only offer you now--the love that says, "thank you for everything." The love that says, "thank you for letting me know you, but I am letting you go now. So, thank you. I love you."