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But A’s not saying any of that Instead, he’s e?" I ask The woe look, and I don’t blame her

A doesn’t answer Instead, he works the chopsticks into the shape of a heart, covering the table Then he takes all the Sweet’N Low packets from our table and two others in order to turn the heart a pale paper pink

It’s too much And it’s awesome at the same time

When he’s done, he points proudly to the heart He looks like a kindergartner who’s just finished a fort

"This," he says, "is only about one-ninety-h I think he’s forgotten that his heart is full of Sweet’N Low

"I’ll try not to take it personally," I tell him

He seems a little offended "Take what personally? You should take it very personally"

"The fact that you used artificial sweetener?"

Saccharine Everything fake But also real

He takes a pink packet fro is a sy to let myself sit undefended I pull a chopstick froe, and raises another chopstick in the saes I parry We are happy fools

The waiter comes over with some plates A turns his head and I pierce his chest

"I die!" A calls out

"Who has the moo shu chicken?" the waiter asks

"That’s his," I say "And the answer is, yes, we’re always like this"

After the waiter leaves, A asks me, "Is that true? Are ays like this?"

"Well, it’s a little too early for always," I answer Not to ruin the moment Just to n," he says

"Always," I tell hiet about the rest of otten about it It’s no longer there There is only now, there is onlyIt doesn’t feel like amnesia as much as it feels like a sudden absence of noise

At the end of the et our fortunes Mine says:

YOU HAVE A NICE SMILE

"This isn’t a fortune," I say, showing it to A

"No You will have a nice smile--that would be a fortune," he tellsto happen, not what already is