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Water sloshes against the concrete as he surfaces He treads water, his eyes on me, his body turned toward mine

“I want to trust you about this, Leigh But I don’t kno” He dives under the water Swims to the shallow end Surfaces with histo his head

I dive under the water Follow him Join him at the steps

His hand brushes mine “You knehen it happened”

“Last June”

He nods

“But you said it’s been fourteen months since you’ve—”

His lips curl into a half smile, but his eyes stay sad “That’s the detail you noticed?”

I nod

“Yeah Penny was right”

“Huh?”

“Sorry I keep forgetting you’re not in my head”

“I wish I was”

“It’s a mess”

“So’s aze to the dark sky “So’s everyone’s” The stars are tiny white dots They’re dull Faint “You’re not a lost cause I don’t think that”