Mark’s face crumpled.
“When you don’t know my name,” I said, “I’ll tell you. Every day. As many times as you need. When you don’t know where you are, I’ll tell you where you are. When you don’t know why you’re wearing that ring, I’ll tell you the whole story. The hinge drawing and the dock and the pizza with sticky tables and Room 12. All of it. From the beginning. Every time.”
I squeezed his hands.
“You chose me once. On this dock. And I’m choosing you now. Right here. Knowing everything. With my eyes wide open.” I smiled at him through the tears. “I’m not scared, Mark. Okay, I’m a little scared. But I’m not going anywhere. You’ll have to forget me a thousand times before I stop showing up.”
He let out a sound that was half a laugh and half a sob. Then he pulled me against him and held on.
